Russell Simmons says he wasn’t making a direct comparison between people and animals when he used references to a holocaust and slavery in talking about animal welfare recently.

Simmons spoke at an event last week calling for the banning of carriage horses in New York City, and was lambasted for saying animal abuse was a “holocaust.” The Anti-Defamation League was among those criticizing him.

He told The Associated Press on Sunday that he wasn’t comparing the conditions of carriage horses to the experiences of Jews in World War II or to slavery. The committed vegan and animal rights activist said he was talking more broadly about animals globally and the conditions they face.

He said he didn’t intend to offend anyone and would use different words in the future.

(AP)