Let the record show that Harvey Weinstein during the 2013 Academy Awards nominations telecast was meant as a "hard swing" at the scandal-embroiled film producer.

The jab in question came right after MacFarlane announced the nominees for best ing actress. He congratulated them, and then quipped, "You five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein." With the former film exec now facing numerous allegations of sexual misconduct that go back decades, MacFarlane felt the need to clarify his comment in a tweet on Wednesday.

In Jessica Barth had told him about a problematic encounter with the producer, so he chose to "take a hard swing" at Weinstein that "came from a place of loathing and anger."

The response from fellow Twitter s wasn't exactly friendly. Many argued that a joke wasn't "a hard swing" and that he was complicit. It got to the point that Barth herself decided to step in, urging them to stop "slamming Seth for not 'doing' anything."

"He stood by me and respected my wishes not to retaliate in any way," Barth wrote of MacFarlane.

Whew. This controversy even giving birth to new controversies now.

[via: Seth MacFarlane/Twitter; h/t: EW]