Nathan Phillips says he forgives Covington students after viral video confrontation

Nathan Phillips, the Native American man in a viral video who is stared down by a Catholic high school student, says he forgives all of those involved in the controversy.

Phillips spoke with Today Thursday and said he was "upset" by the interview with Nick Sandmann that aired on the network the day before. Sandmann did not offer an apology to Phillips, saying he didn't behave disrespectfully and had "every right" to stand in front of him. Phillips said he turned the interview off after 30 or 40 seconds, saying to himself, "That's all I needed to hear."

Sandmann's response to the controversy, Phillips said, was "coached," and has been characterized by "insincerity" and a "lack of responsibility." Phillips also said that because Sandmann has hired a public relations firm, "those aren't even his words."

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At the same time, Phillips said he "went to go pray about it." "Even though I'm angry, I still have that forgiveness in my heart for those students," he said.

Phillips has said he was trying to defuse a tense situation between the students and another group of protesters, and he began to play his drum. In the video, Sandmann was seen wearing a Make America Great Again hat and smirking while staring at Phillips. Phillips again told Today Thursday he heard the students chanting "build the wall," which Sandmann has denied.

Watch the full Today interview with Phillips below. Brendan Morrow