Taye Diggs is known for his charming disposition, but even that couldn’t save the Empire actor from public scrutiny after making controversial statements about son, Walker, whom he shares with Broadway star Idina Menzel.

The 46-year-old thespian came under fire in November 2015 after telling The Grio that he prefers his son be referred to as biracial or mixed but not Black, due to the confusion that could be brought about with the label.

“When you [call biracial kids Black], you risk disrespecting that one half of who you are and that’s my fear,” he explained. “I don’t want my son to be in a situation where he calls himself Black and everyone thinks he has a Black mom and a Black dad, and then they see a White mother, they wonder, ‘Oh, what’s going on?'”

Diggs was called out for weeks following his statement, recently telling BET he believes he was misunderstood.

“That happens. But that gives me an opportunity to talk about issues that we don’t really talk about.”

The actor also spoke on the now-infamous booty pic he posted to Instagram earlier this year, saying he had no clue it would be such a big deal.

“I guess I’m just not in tuned — I thought it was funny. I had no idea that it would garner so much attention and that I would get asked so many questions. It was funny to me so I posted it.”

Diggs’ latest film, Till Death Do Us Part, his theaters on Friday, Sept. 29. Check out the trailer below.