Sick apology of slathering sexist

I often wonder what is the appropriate time period and intensity for remorse?

Too soon and too strong after the event and it looks insincere. Too long and too limp after and it looks begrudging.

This week it emerged that a departing ‘creative strategist’ (made up job obviously) at an ad agency left his role with a global email to colleagues ranking women in the office in order of who he’d sleep with.

Paul Martin listed one woman as ‘after nine pints’, another as ‘after Nathan and after five pints’. In his bottom five one female work mate was listed as ‘If you were the last girl on earth, I would use you as bait to trap a wild animal I would be happier **** ing’. Nice guy. Yet there is something more loathsome than all this about Mr Martin, who claims his email was an ‘ironic’ attempt to mock a sexist culture. And that is his super quick sickeningly slavish apology.

In it he slathered: ‘I’m incredibly sorry for my unforgivable naivety and being further complicit in contributing to an outdated and oppressive culture for women. I should absolutely be held accountable for this misguided, offensive mistake and face all and any consequences…’ And so it droned on.

Look Paul, do yourself a favour and forget the apologies.

You’re an offensive plank. Own it.