By Michelle Diament
July 9, 2012

Rapper 50 Cent is apologizing after he was lambasted for a series of comments on Twitter that were seen by many as critical of those with disabilities.

When a fan contacted 50 Cent on Twitter recently to say "release the album or get shot again," the rap artist reportedly responded by saying "yeah just saw your picture fool you look autistic."

Subsequently, 50 Cent followed up to say "I dont want no special ed kids on my time line follow some body else."

The Twitter comments garnered harsh reaction on the social network, leading actress Holly Robinson Peete - who has a son with autism - to take on the rapper.

"I hope you can see how what you might see as a benign insult - or not - was so randomly hurtful, immature and misinformed," Robinson Peete wrote in an open letter on her website. "If you've read your mentions today I am sure you have felt the wrath of autism parents. We are no joke. Neither is autism. We are not about to let you attempt to make 'autistic' the new 'R-word' under our watch."

In response, 50 Cent took to Twitter again Sunday, telling his 6.8 million followers, "I realize my autism comments were insensitive, however it was not my intention to offend anyone and for this I apologize."

The original tweets were also removed from 50 Cent's Twitter feed.