Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons is taking a social media beating after
Irons said Wednesday that legalizing gay marriage could lead to incest.
In an interview with HuffPost Live Wednesday,
Irons said he doesn't have "a strong feeling" about same-sex marriage, but went on to express concerns that
legalizing gay marriage could lead to fathers marrying their sons to avoid paying inheritance taxes.
"Could a father not marry his son?" Irons asked during the interview. "I could marry my son and pass on my estate to him."
Irons also likened the institution of marriage to the relationship an owner has with a pet dog.
"Living with another animal, whether it be a husband or a dog, is great," Irons said. "It's lovely to have someone to love. I don't think sex matters at all. What it’s called I don't think doesn’t matter at all."
Stephen Colbert mocked the British actor on Thursday's episode of "The Colbert Report."
"So, if gay marriage is legalized in England, Jeremy Irons' son Max: Get ready to make your father the happiest man alive," Colbert joked. "After all, you've been together for 27 years. It's time to put a ring on it."
Twitter users didn't find Irons' comments to be humorous.
Irons stars in the Showtime historical series "The Borgias" as Pope Alexander VI. The third season of the show is scheduled to premiere April 14 at 10 p.m. EST.
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