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Sen. Al Franken apologized Thursday after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell complained he mocked him while the latter was delivering a speech opposing Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan.

Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, was presiding over the Senate at the time of the speech, a McConnell aide confirmed to CNN.

"This isn't 'Saturday Night Live,' Al," McConnell warned the former star of the comedy program moments later, according to the McConnell aide who asked not to be identified.

Franken was clearly moved by the confrontation, which occurred in the Senate chamber.

Moments after the vote, he approached a group of CNN reporters standing in a Senate hallway and asked for directions to McConnell's office.

Shortly after, Franken delivered a note to McConnell apologizing for any disrespect, the aide said.

"The leader thought I was disrespectful while he was giving his speech on General Kagan," Franken said in a statement provided to CNN.

"He is entitled to give his speech with the presiding officer just listening respectfully. I went directly to his office after I was done presiding to apologize in person. He wasn't there, so I've sent him a handwritten note."

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Franken, who was presiding over the chamber from the dais, gesticulated and made faces while McConnell explained his opposition to Kagan, according to witnesses.

A Senate GOP aide said Franken made theatrical gestures and whispered under his breath as the Kentucky senator spoke.

The television cameras broadcasting the speech on C-SPAN remained fixed on McConnell, missing Franken’s antics from the Senate president’s chair.

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Some people using Twitter suggested that Wilson's retort was planned and pointed to a comment the lawmaker posted on Labor Day:

"Happy Labor Day! Wonderful parade at Chapin, many people called out to oppose Obamacare which I assured them would be relayed tomorrow to DC," the tweet from Wilson's account said.

However, on the way to his office Thursday morning, Wilson said his outburst wasn't planned.

"It was spontaneous. It was when he stated, as he did, about not covering illegal aliens, when I knew we had those two amendments, and I say that respectfully," Wilson said.

Shortly after Obama's speech, Wilson called the White House and issued a statement apologizing for his "inappropriate and regrettable" comments.

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