Comedian and actor Mike Epps has apologized, since dealing with the backlash of his Friday night show in Detroit, when he brought a kangaroo on stage

showing the terrified animal lashing out.

Epps, who is best known for his role in “The Hangover,” had invited zoo owner and exotic animal specialist Javon Stacks on stage with the kangaroo, who appeared uncomfortable under the lights and the cheering of the audience. Stacks doesn’t seem bothered by the animal’s distress and raised the animal’s arm in the air as the crowd continued to cheer. At that moment, the kangaroo panicked and tried to hit Epps in the face; the comedian ran off the stage. Moments before, Stacks carried the panicky animal around after it tried to run away. According to  TMZ, Epps grabbed the leash himself, and held the “animal for a photo.”

Angry fans soon took to social media criticizing Epps’ behavior as well as using the kangaroo on stage “milking the animal for laughs.”

“I didn’t think Mike Epps playing with that kangaroo last night was funny at all. That kangaroo looked miserable and ready to snap,” one Twitter user wrote.

Reddit users called Epps a “disgrace.” And then on Sunday, Epps posted a video of himself and Stacks feeding a banana to the kangaroo, but this was not the same terrified animal that appeared on stage Friday night. Stacks claims the animals are all part of a traveling zoo, and he does have all proper licenses. When asked about the leash, Stacks stated it is legal and preferable to a collar.

 Check out the video and decide for yourself. Do you think this was animal cruelty or just fun?

(Photo via YouTube freezeshot)