Will Smith’s incensed response to a journalist’s comment that he allegedly believes Adolf Hitler was a “good” person has received appreciation from the Anti-Defamation League.

The Daily Record, a Scottish newspaper, quoted Hollywood star Will Smith last week as saying the following during an interview: “Even Hitler didn't wake up going, ‘Let me do the most evil thing I can do today.’ I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was ‘good.’”

The quote in itself could be considered quite innocuous, save for the journalist’s preceding comment, which was: “Remarkably, Will believes everyone is basically good,” implying that Smith considered Hitler to be a good person.

This piece of information circulated around the Internet, finally prompting a passionate response from the “I Am Legend” star.

On Monday, he issued a statement harshly criticizing the reporter who started the controversy and emphasizing his true feelings on the subject.

“It is an awful and disgusting lie. It speaks to the dangerous power of an ignorant person with a pen. I am incensed and infuriated to have to respond to such ludicrous misinterpretation.”

He goes on to state, “Adolf Hitler was a vile, heinous, vicious killer responsible for one of the greatest acts of evil committed on this planet.”

Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, an advocacy group which aims “to stop the defamation of Jewish people,” praised the actor for his effort to clear matters.

Foxman expressed appreciation for Smith’s decision to take “immediate steps to clarify his words and unequivocally condemn Hitler as an evil person. We would have expected no less from a celebrity of his standing in the strata of Hollywood stardom.

“If anything, this episode serves as a reminder of the power of words, and how words can be twisted by those with hate and bigotry in their hearts to suit their own world view,” Foxman continued.

“This is why all celebrities bear a special responsibility to weigh their words carefully, and an obligation to speak out against racism and bigotry whenever even a whiff of it appears, as Will Smith has done in this instance.”

Smith’s most recent movie, the post-apocalyptic sci-fi “I Am Legend,” directed by Francis Lawrence (who made his feature film directorial debut in 2005 with “Constantine”), was released nearly two weeks ago and grossed more than $77 million on its opening week.

Smith portrays a man who may be the last surviving member of the human species, who succeeds in his endeavors to save humanity, thus becoming a legend.