You knew 2018 was going to be an interesting year when it kicked off with a viral apology video from YouTube star Logan Paul, who said he was sorry for filming a dead body in Japan’s “suicide forest.”
Paul was far from the only celebrity who expressed regret in the past 12 months: Multiple stars, from Matt Damon to Catherine Denevue, made unfortunate comments about the #MeToo movement; Samantha Bee walked back her vulgar phrase to describe Ivanka Trump; and Megyn Kelly apologised for questioning why blackface was considered racist, though still found her talk show swiftly cancelled.
And as is tradition, there were quite a few apologies for mistakes that were offensive but also a bit more... well, bizarre. Here are some of the weirdest things celebrities apologised for this year:
Posed for a goofy photo shoot in a cemetery.
Many of Katherine Heigl’s 3 million Instagram followers were not amused when she posted a series of silly photos and selfies from a cemetery in New York in June. After getting called out for being disrespectful, the actress removed the pictures and filmed two apology videos. She explained she was trying to find some “levity and humour” during a difficult day of visiting family members’ graves, but “didn’t realise how inappropriate I was being.” “I deeply apologise and I thank you guys for understanding that sometimes I don’t think things through clearly enough,” Heigl said.
Posted a bathtub photo captioned with Whitney Houston lyrics.
Getting ready to take a nice, relaxing bath one day in April, Lorde Instagrammed a picture of a tub and wrote, “And iiii will always love you.” It wasn’t the best caption, considering the singer of those lyrics, Whitney Houston, drowned in a bathtub. Commenters immediately pointed this out, and a mortified Lorde deleted the picture. “Extremely extremely poorly chosen quote,” she wrote in an Instagram story. “I’m so sorry for offending anyone — I hadn’t even put this together I was just excited to take a bath.”
Accidentally promoted an anti-Semitic group on social media.
Soulja Boy, who reportedly charges $100 (Dh367.2) to record a personalised message on the video site Cameo, filmed a shout-out to an anti-Semitic group and didn’t realise what he was promoting. “I was tricked. I apologise to anyone I offended. I thought it was just a shout-out for a fan,” the rapper explained to the New York Times. “I didn’t know it had a negative meaning behind it.” (Turns out Brett Favre and Andy Dick were also tricked into promoting the group.)
Sang a questionable rendition of the national anthem.
How to even describe Fergie’s jazz-infused, blues version of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at the NBA All-Star Game in February? Forbes: “A massive musical fail.” A random attendee: “It just went downhill.” Bob Saget on Twitter: “Fergie’s rendition of the National Anthem was originally written by Francis Scott Out of Key.” Following the backlash, the Black Eyed Peas singer released a statement: “I’ve always been honoured and proud to perform the national anthem, and last night, I wanted to try something special for the NBA. I’m a risk taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn’t strike the intended tone. I love this country and honestly tried my best.”
Gave a far too candid interview to Vulture.
Quincy Jones’s Vulture Q&A in February was a wild ride, as the veteran producer talked about everything from his dates with Ivanka Trump to claims that Michael Jackson “stole a lot of songs.” It was one of the most-read stories on the internet this year, but Jones expressed regret for his “word vomit” after a “surprise family intervention.” “I’m so grateful for my daughters because they aren’t scared to stand up to their daddy,” he wrote in a statement. “I’m sorry & I’m not afraid to say it.”
Bragged about weight loss.
Kim Kardashian West posted a series of gleeful Instagram stories in July, as her sisters pointed out her especially slim physique. “I don’t think you’re eating, you look so skinny,” Kendall Jenner said. “Oh my God, thank you!” Kardashian exclaimed, and boasted she was down to 53kg. Many criticised the videos for glamorising drastic weight loss, and potentially “triggering” people with eating disorders. A couple months later, on model Ashley Graham’s podcast, Kardashian said she had been working hard to lose weight, but understood why people were upset by the comments. She added she knows people with eating disorders and should have been more sensitive: “My intention is never to offend anyone, and I really apologise if I offended anyone.”
Crashed a concert stage to apologise to a spouse.
Ah, the rare apology-in-the-apology: Migos rapper Offset, desperate to win back his superstar wife, Cardi B, crashed her set during a hip-hop festival in California this month. Despite rumors of his cheating that allegedly ended their marriage, he brought flowers and signs that read “TAKE ME BACK, CARDI.” “I just want to tell you I’m sorry, girl... in person, in front of the world. I love you,” he said. Cardi was unimpressed, as were fans that called it emotional manipulation, among other less kind phrases. Afterward, Offset semi-apologised for his grand gesture, saying in part, “All of my wrongs have been made public, I figure it’s only right that my apologies are made public too.”
Introduced a celebrity by the wrong last name.
Ellen DeGeneres has known Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan for years, and apparently their divorce was so amicable that she forgot they split up. After DeGeneres accidentally introduced the actress as “Jenna Dewan Tatum” on her talk show in May, she corrected her mistake later in the segment: “Before we go to break, I’m so sorry how I introduced you, it was just such a habit,” DeGeneres said. “I apologise .. I’m so used to saying it.” Dewan graciously forgave her, and thanked everyone for their support: “It’s all love.”
