Crooner Michael Bublé has apologized after being accused of making sexually suggestive comments towards an unaware girl in an Instagram picture.

Bublé posted the offending picture taken by his wife online earlier this week. In the shot the singer is standing in front of a woman wearing shorts which left part of her backside exposed. He accompanied the picture with the caption: “There was something about this photo lu took ,that seemed worthy of instagram. #myhumps #babygotback #hungryshorts #onlyinmiami #picoftheday #beautifulbum.”

Critics of the singer’s actions felt that he was body-shaming the woman, firing off comments like “Did you ask her permission to post that?” and “Would you say what you hashtagged to her face?”

But others did not think the married man was out of line.

“The only reason he’s getting all this negative response is his fame.. Leave the man alone,” one Buble defender replied. “I’m sure the girl will probably agree with what was said, and I’m sure she was expecting to have people looking at her butt.. Y’all needa find something better to fuss about people.”

Buble addressed the outcry on his Facebook page on Friday.

“Anybody who knows me would never misinterpret the message of the photo my wife took in Miami that seems to have caused unexpected rage by some people,” he wrote. “I do not court controversy. But I realize that a photo that was meant to be complimentary and lighthearted has turned into a questionable issue. For the record, It hurts me deeply that anyone would think that I would disrespect women or be insulting to any human being…I was not brought up that way and it is not in my character. I regret that there are people out there who found the photo offensive. That was not and is not my intention. Women are to be celebrated, loved, respected, honored and revered. I’ve spent my life believing that and will continue to do so.”