Updated: Harpoon President Leaves Porcellian Club Post After Controversial Remarks

Boston, MA - The head of one of Massachusetts' most popular breweries is in hot water, after his remarks to the Harvard University student paper on sexual assault and private clubs stirred up contentious debate.

Charles M. Storey, president of Boston's Harpoon Brewery, wrote to The Harvard Crimson in his capacity as an alumni chair for the storied Porcellian Club, one of the all-male final clubs that has come under scrutiny by university administration.

• READ MORE: All-Male Harvard Club Breaks Silence, Suggests Including Women Increases Odds of Sexual Misconduct

On the Harpoon website Wednesday, Storey published what the site described as an apology and clarification:

"In a letter to the Harvard Crimson regarding private clubs of Harvard, I attempted to make a point regarding efforts to address sexual assault on campus. Unfortunately, I chose my words poorly and it came out all wrong. This failure has led to extreme and unfortunate misinterpretations, which were not my intentions at all. I take the issue of sexual assault extremely seriously, and I am truly sorry to those I have offended. I volunteer to serve as the graduate president of the Porcellian Club in my free time, in part as a way of giving back to the Club for the time I spent there as an undergraduate. My personal comments in no way reflect of the values and views of Harpoon Brewery."

In dozens of Facebook comments that followed, many drinkers stood by their brand, while others said Storey's comments have turned them off to the company.

In the wake of the controversy, Storey resigned his post with the Porcellian Club, according to a second post on Harpoon's website Thursday.

"As a man who takes issues of sexual assault extremely seriously and as a leader of an amazing company where women have the same opportunities as men and where we have zero tolerance for any kind of discrimination, I am disappointed in myself," he wrote in the letter to Harpoon's employee owners. "I am sad that I have disappointed so many people that I care about. As I think it is best for all involved, I have resigned my position as the graduate president of the Porcellian Club. I love this company and all of you and I deeply regret that I have brought this situation upon on us."

>> Photo courtesy Henry Zbyszynski via Flickr/Creative Commons