Greg Norman seemed to brush off Saudi Arabia’s human-rights atrocities when speaking to the media on Wednesday, noting that “We all make mistakes.”

Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf—an organization funded by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia—has tried to distance himself from the government’s issues while downplaying the crimes alleged against the Saudi regime. Criticism towards Norman was renewed, however, after his remarks during a LIV Golf press conference in London went viral.

Ahead of the group’s inaugural event, set for June 9-11 at Centurion Golf Club outside of London, Norman was asked his thoughts on Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the 2018 murder of Washington Post reporter and United States resident Jamal Khashoggi. “From what I heard and what you guys reported,” Norman said, “just take ownership of what it is. Take ownership no matter what it is. Look, we’ve all made mistakes, and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward.”

When Norman was pressed if he thought state-sponsored murder constituted “just a mistake,” according to the Telegraph, Norman replied, “I’m not going down this road guys. Let’s just stay focused on the golf. That’s all I’m going to do.”

Norman’s remarks were not contained to Khashoggi’s death. When asked if he had heard about Saudi Arabia’s execution of 81 individuals in a single day, Norman responded, “I got a lot of messages, but quite honestly I look forward, I don’t look back. I don’t look into the politics of things. I know the mission I have as CEO of LIV Golf and that’s how we can grow the game globally. I’m not going to get into the quagmire of whatever happens in someone else’s world. I heard about it and I just kept moving on.”

Norman would later state, when asked about Saudi Arabia’s discrimination against the LGBTQ community, that “I’m not sure whether I even have any gay friends, to be honest with you.”

Norman’s comments come a day after the PGA Tour told its members it was denying conflicting-event releases for those attempting to compete in the LIV Golf series. PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has promised those who defect to LIV Golf face a possible suspension or ban from the tour.

The finacée of the murdered and dismembered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has described her pain of reading Greg Norman’s comments about his death, asking: “Would you say that if it was your loved one?”

Cengiz told The Telegraph of Norman’s comments: “It is so hurtful when Jamal’s brutal killing is brushed off as a ‘mistake’ and that we should just move on. Would you say that if it was your loved one?

“How can we go forward when those who ordered the murder are still unpunished, and continue to try to buy back their legitimacy?

“We should not fall for their wealth and lies, and lose our morals and common humanity.

“We should all be insisting on the truth and justice; only then can we look forward with hope and dignity.”

The Telegraph report this statement was released through her lawyer, Rodney Dixon QC, who has been helping her with raising awareness over Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses and failures.

Norman has denied that he is complicit in sportswashing, insisting that he does not answer to the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

“We’re independant,” Norman told Sky Sports.

Article originally appeared on: GolfDigest.com