The song, which Williams recorded with singer-songwriter Robin Thicke and rapper T.I., was banned from a list of universities after its lyrics were panned for promoting a culture of date-rape and its sexually explicit video.

Williams, 46, whose songs also include "Happy", defended the song in earlier interviews despite coming under attack for lyrics such as "I know you want it".

But in an interview with GQ magazine this week, Williams said he now understood how the lyrics could be seen as "rapey".

"I realized that there are men who use that same language when taking advantage of a woman, and it doesn't matter that that's not my behavior," he told the magazine.

Read also: Pharrell Williams dreams up capsule collection with Chanel

"It just matters how it affects women."

Williams said he was "born in a different era" where many of the things that he grew up with that were considered normal would be viewed differently now.

"Some of my old songs, I would never write or sing today. I get embarrassed by some of that stuff. It just took a lot of time and growth to get to that place," he said.

"I realized that we live in a chauvinist culture in our country." 

Popular

Bogor declares health emergency after mass food poisoning linked to free meal program

Universe dying quicker than thought, new research says

BYD car catches fire after three days parked at home in West Jakarta