BUSEY APOLOGISES FOR OSCARS RED CARPET MOMENT

Actor GARY BUSEY called in to Los Angeles DJ RYAN SEACREST's breakfast radio show on Monday (25Feb08) to apologise for startling pals JENNIFER GARNER and LAURA LINNEY during a red carpet Oscar interview.

Busey lunged at the actresses as Seacrest chatted to them as part of his coverage of the Academy Awards on U.S. cable TV network E! - and kissed a "nervous" Garner on the neck.

The actress looked worried as Busey stood beside her for the duration of Seacrest's red carpet chat, prompting Linney to drag her away.

But the actor insists he merely wanted to congratulate Linney and say hello Seacrest.

In a cryptic radio chat this morning, Busey told the DJ and American Idol host, "I didn't know you were in the middle of an interview and I was just moving through there. Your eyes looked like a deer in the headlights.

"You are to me, when you're working, an innocent champion of honesty... Your heart has a way of embracing the truth and honesty without looking like you're reading from a script."

When he was asked why he lunged towards actresses Linney and Garner, Busey explained he simply wanted the congratulate the Oscar nominee.

He added, "I met her (Linney) years ago and I complimented her on her craft and last night was a congratulations to her for the nomination she earned."