Comedian Seth Rogen said he turned down House Speaker Paul Ryan's request for a photo together, telling him "No way, man," while also bashing the Republican lawmaker's policies, The Hill reported Saturday.
Rogen told CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert on Friday the exchange took place in front of Ryan's children, whom he had already been talking to when he saw the Speaker walk toward him. The incident took place following a speech Rogen gave on brain health hosted by Republican Mitt Romney.
"My whole body puckered, I tensed up, and I didn't know what to do," he said, explaining Ryan "grabbed [his] hand" before asking for a photo together.
"I look over and his kids are standing right there expectantly, clearly fans of mine, and I said, 'No way, man!'" he said.
Rogen then began to lash out at Ryan over his politics.
"I hate what you're doing to the country at this moment and I'm counting the days until you no longer have one iota of the power that you currently have," Rogen said he told Ryan.
Rogen said he felt "conflicted" about lashing out at Ryan in front of his children, describing them as "very nice fans," but maintained he had no regrets about the encounter.
"I'm glad I didn't take a picture with Paul Ryan, I touched him so I don't know how I feel about that," he explained. "His kids seemed lovely, and very Caucasian."
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