2017 was the year of the apology
The end of 2017 saw a rush of celebrities apologizing for horrific sexual behaviour: Kevin Spacey. Matt Lauer. Mario Batali. Charlie Rose. Louis C.K. But throughout the rest of the year, multiple celebrities also committed missteps and had to say they we
MARSUPIAL MISSTEP
In Detroit, comic Mike Epps brought out a kangaroo onstage during a comedy routine. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) was not pleased. “Look I wanna sincerely apologize to everybody,” Epps said on Instagram. “I don’t own the kangaroo and did not mean any harm to the animal it got outta hand and I am sorry.”
DON’T MESS WITH THE ROCK
On Real Time with Bill Maher, magician Penn Jillette tried to set up a joke about his Newfoundland roots: “I’m probably from Newfoundland, which is just a euphemism for stupid.” Canadians were upset, and Jillette apologized: “I was setting up a bit we didn’t get to. I failed and I’m sorry. I’m an idiot.”
FLASH MOB MENTALITY
A topless Chrissy Teigen crossed her arm over herself as she posted a video on Snapchat — but not enough. The model delivered a typically deadpan apology: “I just want to apologize to everyone I know. I’ve let my friends down. I’ve let my family down. I have nipples. It’s not something I’m proud of.”
CAN WE STILL BE FRIENDS?
Pop star Lorde described to the Guardian her friendship with Taylor Swift. “It’s like having a friend with very specific allergies ... There are certain places you can’t go together. Certain things you can’t do ... It’s like having a friend with an autoimmune disease.” Lorde tweeted her apology: “i f-ed up & that was really insensitive. i’m sorry.”
ROD THE MOD LOSES HIS HEAD
Rod Stewart was hanging with friends in Abu Dhabi in March when, according to Politico, someone filmed this now-deleted video: “Stewart appears to get a male friend to kneel down, hold him by the hair and make what looks like a cutting motion across his throat.” Stewart said it was supposed to mimic a scene from Game of Thrones: “Understandably, this has been misinterpreted and I send my deepest apologies to those who have been offended.”
TAKE CAREY PLEASE
Josh Groban wasn’t the only person snarking about Mariah Carey’s disastrous lip-synching incident when he tweeted, “Any time one of the greatest voices of my generation lip syncs an angel loses its wings.” After a backlash from Carey’s angry fans the next day, Groban expressed regret. “Deleted my tweets about a certain performance because it was made in humour but taken way more meanly than intended. Not out to diss artists.”
JUST WEIGHT A MINUTE
Actress Lucy Hale wrote, “Ugh, I was so fat” when she posted an Instagram photo of herself with her dad on Father’s Day. Fans took issue. “I’m extremely sorry if my comment about my weight offended anyone,” Hale tweeted. “I know people look up to me and I should be way more aware of what I say sometimes.”
THERE’S ALWAYS SECOND PLACE
Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay chose Bryan Abasolo in the season finale, after her wrenching breakup with Peter Kraus, who wasn’t ready to get engaged. Still, after contestant Eric Bigger called Abasolo a “consolation prize” on a talk show in August, he later apologized.
GRAMMY GOOF
At the Grammy Awards in February, actress Laverne Cox introduced a performance by “eighttime Grammy award winners and six-time Grammy winner, Lady Gaga!” Missing from that sentence? Metallica. “I am so sorry to #Metallica and all their fans. I am told I didn’t say their names during the intro. Love you Metallica. You Rock,” she tweeted.
ALL HANDS
ON THE POOP DECK
During a back-and-forth with Jeffrey Lord, CNN’s Anderson Cooper told the conservative pundit, “If (Trump) took a dump on his desk, you would defend it.” Cooper tweeted: “It was unprofessional. I am genuinely sorry.”