Saying she is “a proud American, today, tomorrow, always,” actress Kaley Cuoco apologized via Instagram on Tuesday for disrespecting the U.S. flag in a Fourth of July photo.
The 30-year-old “Big Bang Theory” co-star set off a social media powder keg Monday with an Instagram photo that showed two of her dogs sitting on a U.S. flag draped on a sidewalk. She has since deleted the photo, People magazine reported Tuesday.
According to federal law governing proper display of the Stars and Stripes, “the flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.”
While federal law prescribes fines and punishments for violations of U.S. Flag Code, the Supreme Court has ruled desecration of the U.S. flag, and other flags, is protected speech under the First Amendment.
“Yesterday I made a mistake by posting the picture that was taken of my sweet dogs posing on an American flag. I sincerely apologize to anyone that has been offended by my previous post,” Ms. Cuoco wrote. “This is no way reflects my feelings toward what the American flag represents.”
The actress also took a swipe at the unforgiving nature of social-media outrage.
“Living in the public eye, can be extremely difficult at times. Every mistake and every imperfection is amplified,” she wrote. “I am not perfect. I am a proud American, today, tomorrow, always.”
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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