An Australian talent show skit based around late pop star Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 has backfired after American guest star Harry Connick Jr. called for an apology, accusing the program of racism.

This controversial blackface act was watched by 2.3 million when it appeared on a popular Aussie program called Hey Hey It’s Saturday on Wednesday evening. During the sketch, comedy troupe, who called themselves “Jackson Jive,” painted their faces black and donned black Afro wigs in the skit broadcast Wednesday evening. Another dressed as Jackson himself, donned white face paint. All five members of the group wore white suits and purple shirts, as well as the single jeweled glove favored Michael Jackson, who died in June of a prescription drug overdose.

The performance prompted guest judge Connick Jr. to protest and “speak up as an American.”

Connick Jr. — an international jazz crooner born in New Orleans — looked uncomfortable during the performance and gave the troupe a score of zero.

“I just wanted to say on behalf of my country, I know it was done humorously, but we’ve spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons, that when we see something like that, we take it really to heart. … and if I knew that was going to be part of the show, I probably—I definitely wouldn’t have done it,” Connick said after the skit.

Way to go, Harry!

Dr Anand Deva, who played Michael Jackson in the skit, said the act was meant to be a tribute to Michael Jackson.

“It certainly was not meant to be racist in any way at all,” he told an Australian tabloid this week. “I think he (Connick Jr) is taking it the wrong way.”