(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Brett Ratner has officially resigned from his role of producer for the 2012 Academy Awards.

The director had come under fire for using a homophobic slur on Sunday during a Q&A session to promote his new movie Tower Heist.

As a result he has now stepped down from the prestigious position.

"Rehearsal is for f**s," he told the crowd when a fan asked him a question.

Brett has now written an open letter to apologise for the "hurtful and stupid things I've said."

"Having love in your heart doesn't count for much if what comes out of your mouth is ugly and bigoted," he wrote.

"Being asked to help put on the Oscar show was the proudest moment of my career. But as painful as this may be for me, it would be worse if my association with the show were to be a distraction from the Academy and the high ideals it represents."

He added that he had been in contact with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and promised that he would work to "increase awareness of the important and troubling issues this episode has raised."

President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Tom Sherak said that Brett did "the right thing" by stepping down.

"Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable," Tom said. "We all hope this will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the harm that is caused by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of the intent."

Brett had recommended next year's Oscar host Eddie Murphy after working with him on Tower Heist. (C) Cover Media