Billy Bob Thornton has scrapped the remainder of his North American dates as support to Willie Nelson after fans booed him onstage at a Toronto show on Thursday night.

The Oscar winner upset Canadian fans by appearing to attack them in a radio interview earlier this week, and even though he insisted his comments were aimed at a DJ he fell out with on air, those at the Massey Hall show refused to believe him.

Thornton insisted his "mashed potatoes with no gravy" comment was not anti-Canadian, adding, "Boo all you want, but I want to say something - we're really happy to be here."

But, following the bad gig, the actor/writer and his band, The Boxmasters, have reportedly pulled the plug on other dates.

A post on Willie Nelson's official website on Friday reads, "At this time, no reasons have been announced but the remainder of the tour will continue as scheduled without The Boxmasters."