Every star eventually trips over their own ego, and when the spotlight is always on, that trip is caught in HD. Apologies are supposed to be simple. Say what you did, own it, and mean it. But celebrities tend to complicate things. Most people believe that a “sorry if you were offended” isn’t an apology. It’s a PR stunt in cheap wrapping. Most choose the safety of a written statement, some book a soft talk show seat, and the brave, or foolish, attempt the unfiltered video confessional.
Some apologies spark forgiveness, others light the internet on fire, and a few become memes that outlive the careers they were meant to save. In Hollywood, sorry isn’t just a word — it’s a performance.
Here are the biggest celebrity apologies of all time.
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher apologize for supporting That 70s Show co-star Danny Masterson
Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher delivered one of those infamous “hostage video” apologies after supporting their former That ’70s Show co-star, Danny Masterson, who was convicted of rape in 2023. Kunis looked like she’d rather be doing literally anything else, while Kutcher leaned on that tired line of being “sorry if you were offended.” They wrapped things up by stressing their support for victims of sexual violence. The fallout was swift. Kutcher resigned as board chair of Thorn, the anti–child abuse organization he helped create, proving that sometimes an apology costs more than just public embarrassment.
Will Smith apologizes for slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars
Months after the infamous Oscar night slap, Will Smith dropped an apology video that managed to be both stiff and overly polished. He apologized to “everyone,” including Chris Rock, while awkwardly reading pre-selected questions like he was stuck in a hostage Q&A. His delivery felt robotic, yet the set design was a masterclass in carefully curated earth tones, the kind you’d expect from a lifestyle influencer.
Ellen DeGeneres apologizes for abusing her staff during a monologue
Ellen DeGeneres opened the 18th season of her show with an apology that doubled as a standup act. And, oh boy, it didn’t land. Accused of running a toxic workplace, she mixed in clumsy jokes with lines about taking responsibility. Instead of addressing the allegations with sincerity, she turned the moment into an opening monologue. Former and current staffers weren’t impressed, telling BuzzFeed the apology downplayed her behavior and shifted the focus back to her.
Logan Paul apologizes for the forest video
In 2017, Logan Paul filmed in Japan’s Aokigahara Forest, a site tragically linked to suicides, and made the worst decision of his career. After discovering a dead body, he didn’t stop recording. He zoomed in, cracked jokes, and then uploaded the footage for millions, including kids, to watch. Paul rushed out an apology that felt less like remorse and more like brand protection. Stripped of the pranks and merch plugs, audiences saw a version of Logan Paul that no edit could soften.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard ask Australia for forgiveness
Long before their courtroom drama became tabloid gold, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard filmed a painfully awkward one-minute apology to Australia for smuggling in their dogs. Both stare blankly at an off-screen prompter, reciting lines about “biodiversity” with all the conviction of kids forced to read a school assembly speech. What was meant to smooth things over only spotlighted how forced and hollow the apology was.
Michael Richards Apologizes for Saying the N-Word
Michael Richards, forever remembered as Kramer from Seinfeld, torched his career in 2006 when he unleashed a racist tirade at a comedy club, repeatedly shouting the N-word at Black audience members. His damage control was a satellite appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman alongside Jerry Seinfeld. What unfolded was so surreal it could’ve been a Curb Your Enthusiasm bit. Richards awkwardly described flying into “a rage” and saying “pretty nasty things to some Afro Americans,” while the studio audience laughed, assuming it was a gag. Seinfeld snapped, “Stop laughing, it’s not funny”. But the moment was already beyond saving.
Colleen Ballinger sings her apology
When Rolling Stone reported allegations of grooming and exploitation against YouTuber Colleen Ballinger, fans expected a serious response. Instead, she pulled out a ukulele. What followed was a 10-minute singalong apology, complete with chirpy strumming and lyrics downplaying the accusations as “mistakes.” The video instantly went viral for all the wrong reasons, cementing itself as what many have called the cultural low point of 2023. If there’s a guidebook on how not to apologize, Ballinger just wrote the first chapter.
Ja Rule says Fyre festival was NOT A SCAM
The 2017 Fyre Festival fiasco gave us luxury tents that looked like hurricane shelters and an apology worthy of the notes app hall of fame. Co-founder Ja Rule took to social media with the unforgettable lines: “My partners and I wanted this to be an amazing event it was NOT A SCAM” (it was, in fact, a scam) and “I truly apologize as this is NOT MY FAULT” (a court later decided he wasn’t liable, but still). It was the rare apology that managed to be defensive, hilarious, and totally unconvincing all at once.
Justin Bieber realises it’s “too late now to say sorry”
Justin Bieber has apologized so many times he literally turned it into a hit song, but few were as oddly wholesome as his 2015 “butt apology.” After posting a belfie to Instagram, Bieber quickly deleted it and explained: “I deleted the photo of my butt on Instagram not because I thought it was bad but someone close to me’s daughter follows me and she was embarrassed that she saw my butt… To anyone I may have offended I’m so sorry.” It was pure Bieber—equal parts cheeky, guilty, and oblivious to the fact that millions of “littles” were following him.
Kevin Spacey comes out while apologizing
Kevin Spacey’s fall from grace began in 2017 when Anthony Rapp accused him of making sexual advances when Rapp was just 14. Spacey’s response went down as one of the worst apologies ever. He claimed he didn’t remember the incident but admitted it “could’ve happened,” before pivoting to come out as gay in the same statement. The timing and tone were blasted as a cynical distraction, with many in the LGBTQ+ community rejecting the attempt to conflate identity with accountability. Instead of damage control, it became a career-ender. Spacey’s reputation collapsed overnight and has never recovered.
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