Earlier today it was discovered that PSY’s singing and performing past includes strong hatred for Americans.

The South Korean rapper just issued an apology.

“As a proud South Korean who was educated in the United States and lived there for a very significant part of my life, I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world. The song I was featured in – eight years ago – was part of a deeply emotional reaction to the war in Iraq and the killing of two Korean schoolgirls that was part of the overall antiwar sentiment shared by others around the world at that time. While I’m grateful for the freedom to express one’s self, I’ve learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I’m deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted. I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words.

“I have been honored to perform in front of American soldiers in recent months – including an appearance on the Jay Leno show specifically for them- and I hope they and all Americans can accept my apology. While it’s important that we express our opinions, I deeply regret the inflammatory and inappropriate language I used to do so. In my music, I try to give people a release, a reason to smile. I have learned that thru music, our universal language we can all come together as a culture of humanity and I hope that you will accept my apology.”

In 2002, shortly after U.S. military vehicles killed two South Korean teenage girls outside of Seoul, South Korea, PSY took the stage in gold face paint and smashed a model U.S. tank to make his thoughts on the tragedy known.

This was a protest against the crime which was defined as “a military operation” and dealt with internally by American military courts, HAPS Magazine reports. Many South Koreans were outraged by the deaths and PSY acted his feelings out onstage. But, should this cause backlash against him?

Similarly, “Dear American” was also a protest, this time after Korean missionary Kim Sun-il was kidnapped by an Islamist group and then was executed. This triggered PSY’s response.

On “Dear American,” a cover of South Korean metal band N.EX.T, PSY rapped, “Kill those f***ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives/Kill those f***ing Yankees who ordered them to torture/Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers/Kill them all slowly and painfully.”

The original track opens with the sound of gunfire.

PSY’s fans have taken to Twitter and Facebook in response.

“Get PSY off American Radio and stop making him rich!” Michael Byrne writes.

So the Korean pop singer Psy has an anti-American past? Anybody else hear this as well? Sad, cause I like him. Or did..

— phlebgirl (@lisatatum1971) December 7, 2012

So PSY advocated for the killing of American soldiers in 2004 and is publicly anti-American. Funny, I think were the country that made him

— Matteo Moran (@lunicoMatteo) December 7, 2012

Should Americans accept his apology?

-Annie Reuter, CBS Local