Top Hollywood producer Scott Rudin has issued a public apology after email correspondence between him and Sony Pictures chairman Amy Pascal was leaked as part of the studio's latest security breach.

Rudin attacked Angelina Jolie and poked fun at U.S. President Barack Obama in his notes to Pascal and now clearly regrets the emails that have leaked.

In one exchange, he suggests the African-American leader is a fan of Kevin Hart's movie Ride Along, writing, "I bet he likes Kevin Hart."

He and Pascal also joke about the President's preference for movies about African-Americans - when the Sony boss asks "Should I ask him if he liked Django?" referring to Quentin Tarantino's slave western Django Unchained, Rudin replies, "12 Years (a Slave)."

This exchange prompts the Sony chairman to email back, "Or the butler. Or think like a man? (sic)."

Releasing a statement in response to the leak, Rudin writes: "Private emails between friends and colleagues written in haste and without much thought or sensitivity, even when the content of them is meant to be in jest, can result in offense where none was intended.

"I made a series of remarks that were meant only to be funny, but in the cold light of day, they are in fact thoughtless and insensitive - and not funny at all. To anybody I've offended, I'm profoundly and deeply sorry, and I regret and apologize for any injury they might have caused."

In another hacked email to Pascal, Rudin took aim at Jolie over comments she had made about director David Fincher taking charge of his Steve Jobs biopic.

In the correspondence, the producer called the actress/director a "minimally talented, spoiled brat".

Pascal has also issued an apology for the leaked messages, stating, "The content of my emails to Scott were insensitive and inappropriate but are not an accurate reflection of who I am. Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologize to everyone who was offended."

Cyber crooks illegally gained access to Sony's computer systems and databases last month (Nov14) and stole emails, celebrities' personal information and unreleased movies.