Montreal police say they have launched a criminal investigation after a video was posted online showing a homeless man having a soft drink thrown in his face.
The perpetrator apologized on his Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon.
He said people didn't know that the homeless person spat on his girlfriend and made a sexual comment about her.
He added he acted as any man would have done to defend her honour.
The original video shows a man shouting at the homeless person and telling him to find a job.
In his apology, the man said the Old Brewery Mission contacted him so he could volunteer at the homeless shelter but that assertion was denied by the president of the organization.
Matthew Pearce, the head of the shelter, did acknowledge giving an earlier interview in which he said the man should have to do 100 hours of community service.