David Duchovny is facing criticism after starring in a Russian beer commercial, which surfaced online on Friday, which shows the X-Files star wondering if he had been born in Russia.
In the advertisement for Siberian Crown, Duchovny is shown in New York wondering about what could have been, WENN reports.
"This is the country where I was born and raised," The Californication star starts off. "But there's another country, where I got my family name from. Sometimes I wonder, what if things turned out differently? What if I were Russian?"
The two-and-a-half minute beer commercial shows Duchovny in a variety of jobs, including cosmonaut, ballet instructor and Russian actor.
The criticism stems from appearing in an ad, which has aired (like that's really his fault) so soon after the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down, by what most believe to be pro-Russian separatists armed with Russian missiles.
Duchovny released a statement to TMZ noting that the ad isn't meant to be a political statement. "I am proud of my Russian, Ukrainian, Scottish and Polish heritage as I am proud of my American heritage."
The TV star adds, "But being proud of one's ancestry is not a political statement on any current government or public policies. In retrospect, and in light of recent tragic events, I can now see the potential for misunderstanding and hope people with understand."
image courtesy of Roger Wong/INFphoto.com