Actor David Duchovny recently defended a controversial Russian beer commercial he stars in, telling TMZ that he does not support Russian policy of late, especially the invasion of Ukraine.

In the Sibirskaia Korona ad, which runs over two minutes long, Duchovny muses about how his life might have turned out if he was born in Russia instead of the United States. “This is the country where I was born and raised,” Duchovny says at the start of the rather epic video, adding, “But there is another country, where I got my family name from. And sometimes I wonder: What if things turned out differently? What if I were Russian?”

Various little vignettes depict the actor as a ballet coach, a cosmonaut, a mullet-wearing bassist in a pop rock band and a hockey player missing a tooth.

Yet, fans became a bit riled over the ad, especially after the recent downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 by pro-Russia separatists. Duchovny commented, “I am proud of my Russian, Ukrainian, Scottish and Polish heritage as I am proud of my American heritage.”

The Sibirskaia Korona commercial spot:

Duchovny adds, “But being proud of one’s ancestry is not a political statement on any current government or public policies.”

The reaction to the commercial has been mixed on Twitter:

David Duchovny does ridiculously elegant ad for the evil beer that saws your head in two at Gogol. http://t.co/AE1cSkpKd2

— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) July 26, 2014

My goodness. I don't know where to begin with this, but David Duchovny's ad for Sibirskaia korona needs to be seen https://t.co/JtRy0SmLWM

— Polly (@PollyMcMichael) July 25, 2014

Urgent! Call the Un-American Activities Committee. David Duchovny is guilty. Evil #Putin now steals #US stars. http://t.co/a1ChE0agqh

— Alex Bukovsky (@BungeeWedgie) July 25, 2014

OMG I LOVE THIS. RT @ElenaXF3: Video: rebel901: Duchovny’s Russian Beer Commerical…one of the best things EVER! … http://t.co/jh3kCxbVYO"

— Mandy (@mrush353) July 25, 2014

Duchovny insists the beer commercial is not a political statement – “In retrospect, and in light of recent tragic events, I can now see the potential for misunderstanding and hope people will understand.”

The former X-Files star recently completed a seven-season run on the Showtime hit dramedy Californication, and will appear in the new NBC police drama Aquarius. Duchovny will play a 1960s police sergeant investigating budding cult leader Charles Manson.

Image via YouTube