Spike Lee settles with Florida couple who were forced to flee their home

Famed director Spike Lee has reached a financial settlement with a Florida couple who were forced to flee their home out of fear after he re-tweeted their home address on social networking website Twitter.com.

The terms of the financial settlement between Lee, 55, and Elaine and David McClain, of Sanford, Florida, were not disclosed.

Mrs. McClain said Lee’s apology was very heartfelt. “When he called us, you could just tell he really felt bad about it,” she said. “And it was just a slip, and I just know that he really, really has been concerned.” The McClains are in their 70s.

From Radar Online:

The “Jungle Fever” director Thursday apologized and reached a settlement with Elaine and David McClain, the elderly Sanford, Florida couple fled their home after the director re-tweeted their address under the false pretense it belonged to George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last month.

“At this point in time, we have come to an agreement with Spike Lee and his attorneys, and at this point, the matter is fully resolved,” Matt Morgan, the lawyer for the McClains, said in a statement on behalf on the family. “Spike has agreed to compensate the McClains for their loss and for the disruption into their lives. He’s taken full responsibility.”

Lee tweeted Wednesday: “I Deeply Apologize To The McClain Family For Retweeting Their Address. It Was A Mistake. Please Leave The McClain’s In Peace.”

The original tweet was sent out from the Twitter.com account of Marcus D. Higgins. The tweet was “re-tweeted” by hundreds of Twitter users, including Lee who re-tweeted it to his 250,000+ followers.

The McClains weren’t aware that their address was on the Internet until they began receiving death threats. The couple is not related to George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman told police he acted in self defense after Trayvon attacked him on Feb. 26. The case has sparked a firestorm of protests from people around the world who believe Trayvon was racially profiled.