Christian Bale is back-tracking on recent remarks he made about George Clooney in a magazine article, insisting he didn't mean to disrespect his fellow former Batman.

The Dark Knight star singled out Clooney during a rant about "whining stars" who complain about the paparazzi in the new WSJ Magazine, but at the New York premiere of his new movie Exodus: Gods & Kings over the weekend (ends07Dec14), Bale insisted he didn't mean to take aim at the newly-married movie superstar.

He said, "I certainly didn't mean it aimed at Mr. Clooney; I think the world of him, I respect him immensely.

"I can't even begin to imagine the level of intrusion he has on his private life."