AceShowbiz - Vince Vaughn has spoken out after the promotional trailer for his new comedy "The Dilemma" was criticized over the use of the word "gay". U.S. newsman Anderson Cooper led protests over Vaughn's line, "Ladies and gentlemen, electric cars... are gay", when he appeared on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show earlier this month.

Cooper argued that the pejorative use of the world should be eliminated, especially in light of a recent spate of gay teen suicides across America. The backlash led to movie bosses at Universal Pictures promising to replace the trailer with a new one, and now Vaughn has waded into the debate.

In a statement, Vaughn says, "Let me add my voice of support to the people outraged by the bullying and persecution of people for their differences, whatever those differences may be. Comedy and joking about our differences breaks tension and brings us together. Drawing divided lines over what we can and cannot joke about does exactly that; it divides us. Most importantly, where does it stop?"