Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has apologized for characterizing National Anthem protests led by Kappa Alpha Psi NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other athletes  “dumb and disrespectful” as well as “stupid” to Katie Couric earlier this week.

On Friday, the Supreme Court Justice released a statement stating said she barely knew about the National Anthem protest and that her comments that athletes have the right to protest “if they want to be stupid” were “inappropriately dismissive and harsh.”

“Some of you have inquired about a book interview in which I was asked how I felt about Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players who refused to stand for the national anthem,” Ginsburg stated. “Barely aware of the incident or its purpose, my comments were inappropriately dismissive and harsh. I should have declined to respond.”

Kaepernick responded to Ginsburg’s initial comments stating,

“It is disappointing to hear a Supreme Court justice call a protest against injustices and oppression `stupid, dumb’ in reference to players doing that.”