Ben Polis says his comments on Facebook were jokes between friends but has apologised for the racism row it has caused for AFL club Melbourne.
The Melbourne Football Club has severed its sponsorship ties with EnergyWatch and Mr Polis has been dumped as CEO of the company he co-founded in the wake of a series of racist and offensive remarks he made on Facebook.
Mr Polis said he was embarrassed by the remarks and said he was not racist.
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"These were jokes between friends," Mr Polis told AAP.
"Have they been taken out of context? Yes.
"Did I say them? 100 per cent."
Mr Polis had posted remarks about Aborigines, Asians, women and Prime Minister Julia Gillard on his Facebook page.
Mr Polis said he was embarrassed by the remarks and he could understand how minority groups would feel offended by the comments.
"For that I am very sorry.
"I'm not a racist person."
"These comments have been made. Was there any hatred or hurt behind them? No there wasn't.
"I'm not like a neo-Nazi racist is what I'm trying to say."
EnergyWatch's sponsorship deal was worth $1.9 million a year for the Demons.
Mr Polis said he was sorry and upset that the hard work the company had done with Melbourne was now finished.
"I'm embarrassed for the fact that I have hurt the Melbourne Football Club ... and more importantly all the hard work the Melbourne Football Club has done with their indigenous playing group."
Mr Polis has stepped down as CEO of EnergyWatch, in what he described as a mutual decision with co-owner and co-founder Luke Zombor to protect the company's integrity.
"The reality is I have personally offended and embarrassed myself and my relationship with the Melbourne Football Club, and that's something that I need to take on the chin for myself," Mr Polis said.
"I have done this and there's no excuses for it.
"The reality is these are comments made by Ben Polis. They're not comments made by EnergyWatch."
Mr Zombor, who was the chief financial officer, has taken over as CEO.
The Demons said Mr Polis's comments had been "disgraceful and abhorrent" while A-League club Melbourne Victory and the Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels, which are also sponsored by EnergyWatch, are also reviewing their ties.
AAP
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