Cat Stevens calls past remarks on Salman Rushdie a mistake, refuses further comment

Cat Stevens refused to discuss his past controversial remarks about Salman Rushdie during a recent interview. Stevens, promoting his new memoir, called his 1989 comments about an effigy burning a "mistake" and a failed attempt at humor, but then shut down further questioning on the topic. His memoir touches on Rushdie's novel, which Stevens found offensive, and recounts his efforts to have the book removed from circulation, detailing a period of intense public backlash.