“J’Ouvert” is the name of the first official day of Carnival festivities in Trinidad and Tobago and elsewhere in the Caribbean, with its origins in the end of slavery there.

The American actor apologised on Instagram yesterday, saying he never meant to offend or hurt a culture he had hoped to celebrate.

“Last few days have been a lot of listening. A lot of learning and engaging in countless community conversations,” he wrote.

“We hear you. I hear you and want to be clear that we are in the process of renaming.”

Since the launch over the weekend, Caribbean nationals including Trinidad-born rapper Nicki Minaj took to social media demanding a change in its name.

“I’m sure MBJ didn’t intentionally do anything he thought Caribbean people would find offensive, but now that you are aware, change the name and continue to flourish and prosper,” she wrote on Instagram.