OUT OF TUNE: Angus T. Jones (left), with his “Two and a Half Men” co-stars Ashton Kutcher (center) and Jon Cryer, last night released a statement insisting he respects them — even if he does think their sitcom is “filth.” (
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The teen star of “Two and a Half Men” spoke out for the first time last night since a video of his religious rant against the show went viral.
Angus T. Jones, 19, released a statement apologizing “if my remarks reflect me showing indifference to and disrespect of my colleagues and a lack of appreciation of the extraordinary opportunity of which I have been blessed.”
“I am grateful to and have the highest regard and respect for all of the wonderful people on ‘Two and Half Men’ with whom I have worked over the past 10 years and who have become an extension of my family.”
Jones shocked his colleagues by blasting as “filth” the CBS sitcom, which is making him nearly $8 million per season — and urging viewers to turn it off before they go to hell.
Now, his fate is in the hands of producer Chuck Lorre after other executives headed for the hills.
“This is going to be up to Lorre, what to do,” said a Hollywood insider. “[Jones] works for Chuck.”
Another source told The Post, “There are two problems with this. First, he’s still a kid. No one wants to ruin his life.
“And two, this about religion. It’s not like Lindsay Lohan or something . . . No one questions the sincerity of his beliefs.
“Everyone wants to stay quiet and just hope it goes away.”
Another source said simply, “There’s just no way to win here.’’
Last year, Lorre had to deal with the crazed behavior of Charlie Sheen, whose diatribes and show-bashing got him fired.
Sheen yesterday sympathized with his former co-star, and blamed more mysterious forces.
“With Anguss Hale-Bopp-like meltdown, it is radically clear to me that the show is cursed,” Sheen told People magazine.
Jones’ 20-minute rant, posted on YouTube by Internet preacher Christopher Hudson, took his colleagues by surprise.
Jones had never spoken to them about religion or his sudden distaste for the raunchy show.
“I’ve been talking to people all day and, from what I can tell, they were all like me — not a clue this was coming,” said an insider.
Most are trying to downplay the controversy.
“He’s not the first actor to say, ‘My show stinks,’ ” said one executive, who added that Jones is not in violation of his contract.
Lorre had nothing to say.
Jones was hiding at his father Kelly’s LA home yesterday. Nobody answered the door, although people could be seen inside.
Jones’ mother, Carey, said she fears that her son’s new congregation, the Valley Crossroads church, which says it’s associated with the Seventh-Day Adventist denomination, is really a cult.
“I’m concerned he’s being exploited by the church,” she told the Daily Mail.
Hudson, the teen’s spiritual mentor, has made bizarre claims, saying President Obama’s health- care policy “embodies the policies that were found within Adolf Hitler’s health-care plan.”
Hudson also said that Jay Z released his latest album on 9/11 because of the number 11, which “represents . . . the eternal kingdom of the anti-Christ.”
Jones’ family has a troubled history. His mom, Carey, 42, had his dad, Kelly, arrested in 1997 after he allegedly pushed her out of a car. And she herself was busted in 1992 for allegedly ripping the meter out of a taxi and punching a cop.
Kelly, 50, also has been arrested for gun and pot possession.
“Two and a Half Men’’ has shot about half its episodes for this season. Jones won’t be on set for the next two weeks of filming before the holiday break because he’s not featured in the episodes.
If a decision is made to get rid of him, it won’t be hard, because his character, Jake Harper, has already enlisted in the military and can easily be shipped out.