Someone Who Is Actually Worse At Apologizing Then I Am
I recently wrote about how sometimes I suck at apologies. I came to the conclusion that if I have to add the, “but…” to my apology to defend my actions, then I’m probably not sorry. If I truly am sorry? Then I should leave that part out, no matter how much my pride wants to put it in there.
Well…I’m glad to see I have celebrity company in this trend. It seems as though a certain A-list celebrity is also kinda crappy at apologies. I know I don’t usually talk about these type of things but having discussed my own crappy apologies recently, I had to dissect this one in the same vein. Because Kanye’s apology makes all of my crappy ones look sincere and modest. And I’ve made some pretty crappy apologies, so that’s hard to do.
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, I’ll tell you my version of the VMAs and the Kanye West incident from last night. I was watching them live, waiting for the new New Moon trailer as I’m a wee too obsessed with the upcoming flick. I was trying to also work so I pushed Mute after Taylor Swift got her award. I twittered that I was happy for her as I’ve seen her in concert, and then didn’t glance back at the TV until a few moments later and I saw Kayne on stage with an upset looking Ms. Swift. I’ve mentioned my need for an embarrassment pillow before so I called LilZ in there and said, “Hey. I think Kanye just interrupted Taylor’s speech. Watch this for me and tell me what happens.” I rewound the recording and left the room. When I returned LilZ gave me the run down and I opted to at least listen to it while covering my eyes.
I couldn’t believe it. I was torn for feeling bad for Taylor Swift and for Beyoncé, both uncomfortable for two entirely different reasons.
So…drama, drama, drama. Fast-forward to this morning when news got out accompanied with Kanye’s official (and all-caps) apology from his blog:
I’M SOOOOO SORRY TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND HER FANS AND HER MOM. I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING MY MOTHER WOULD’VE SAID. SHE IS VERY TALENTED! I LIKE THE LYRICS ABOUT BEING A CHEERLEADER AND SHE’S IN THE BLEACHERS! …………………… I’M IN THE WRONG FOR GOING ON STAGE AND TAKING AWAY FROM HER MOMENT!…………….. BEYONCE’S VIDEO WAS THE BEST OF THIS DECADE!!!! I’M SORRY TO MY FANS IF I LET YOU GUYS DOWN!!!! I’M SORRY TO MY FRIENDS AT MTV. I WILL APOLOGIZE TO TAYLOR 2MRW. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD!!!! EVERYBODY WANNA BOOOOO ME BUT I’M A FAN OF REAL POP CULTURE!!! NO DISRESPECT BUT WE WATCHIN’ THE SHOW AT THE CRIB RIGHT NOW CAUSE … WELL YOU KNOW!!!! I’M STILL HAPPY FOR TAYLOR!!!! BOOOYAAAWWWW!!!! YOU ARE VERY VERY TALENTED!!! I GAVE MY AWARDS TO OUTKAST WHEN THEY DESERVED IT OVER ME… THAT’S WHAT IT IS!!!!!!! I’M NOT CRAZY YALL, I’M JUST REAL. SORRY FOR THAT!!! I REALLY FEEL BAD FOR TAYLOR AND I’M SINCERELY SORRY!!! MUCH RESPECT!!!!!
Did you read it? Seriously. READ IT. The first few lines aren’t that bad:
I’M SOOOOO SORRY TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND HER FANS AND HER MOM. I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING MY MOTHER WOULD’VE SAID. SHE IS VERY TALENTED! I LIKE THE LYRICS ABOUT BEING A CHEERLEADER AND SHE’S IN THE BLEACHERS! …………………… I’M IN THE WRONG FOR GOING ON STAGE AND TAKING AWAY FROM HER MOMENT!
Yes, Kanye. That was crappy. You are in the wrong. Taylor is talented and you hurt a lot of people with your actions. But then came his, “but…” Now…in his defense, he didn’t use the actual “I’m sorry, but…” phrasing, but the idea is the same.
…………….. BEYONCE’S VIDEO WAS THE BEST OF THIS DECADE!!!!
So, he’s sorry…but how could he NOT have done what he did? Beyoncé’s video was THE BEST! In truth? I love her video. While I liked Justin Timberlake’s version better (hee.) – hers was amazing. As was her performance last night. But really? Who honestly believes any of these awards shows always gets it right? Emmys? Oscars? VMAs? There are always write-ups the next day where people are talking about who should have won. But does anyone jump on state and announce it during the winner’s speech? It’s just so…weird. And then…his apology transforms from the “I’m sorry, but…” format into the, “This is what the REAL world is like…” format. Throwing in a bit of the, “You think it sucks for you…here’s how my life sucks worse and I handled it better” apology.
WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD!!!! EVERYBODY WANNA BOOOOO ME BUT I’M A FAN OF REAL POP CULTURE!!! NO DISRESPECT BUT WE WATCHIN’ THE SHOW AT THE CRIB RIGHT NOW CAUSE … WELL YOU KNOW!!!! I’M STILL HAPPY FOR TAYLOR!!!! BOOOYAAAWWWW!!!! YOU ARE VERY VERY TALENTED!!! I GAVE MY AWARDS TO OUTKAST WHEN THEY DESERVED IT OVER ME… THAT’S WHAT IT IS!!!!!!! I’M NOT CRAZY YALL, I’M JUST REAL. SORRY FOR THAT!!! I REALLY FEEL BAD FOR TAYLOR AND I’M SINCERELY SORRY!!! MUCH RESPECT!!!!!
Man. I hate this kind of apology. I don’t hand this one out often, but I’m sure I have because I’m not perfect. I have received it a million times, however. The, “I’m sorry your feelings were hurt but that’s life, honey.” That apology makes me want to punch someone’s eyes out. And then, the end? The, “I’m sorry you didn’t like what I did to you but when I was in your shoes I did this…” type of apology. Another total winner.
All in all? The worst worded apology ever, I believe. Now, Kanye may truly be sorry. I have no idea. Lord knows I’ve been truly sorry for things before, but my pride has taken over and kept me from really sounding sincere. Maybe I should give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that’s what happened. But I just have to say, if you’re truly TRULY sorry? This is not how you phrase it. None of this. He should have stopped after the first section. And then maybe ended it with, “I’m a douche.” That would have seemed about right.
One of these days I’m going to master the art of the honest and sincere apology…but for now? I’ll just strive to be better at it than Kanye. It’s the baby steps, you see.
Even if it’s sincere, any apology that contains the words, “I’m sorry if . . . ” or “I’m sorry, but . . .” doesn’t sound like it. Even if the person doesn’t understand why someone was offended, and I think Kanye did understand, the words “I’m sorry that . . .” get the point across a lot better.
I didn’t watch the VMAs, but I heard about this today. Between the Kanye debacle and Serena Williams’ non-apology for her on-court meltdown, it was quite a weekend for stuck-up celebrities!
I am SO glad you posted on this because while I was watching it late last night on YouTube, I immediately thought of you and the embarrassment pillow! My first thought was “Oh goodness, Miss Zoot would SO be running for the nearest pillow!” Seriously, my first thought.
I like that there are things one can count on in this world. I will always have to pay taxes. There will always be reruns of Seinfeld. Kanye West will always be a dick.
I just shake my head over the whole thing. And I never actually saw Beyonce’s video but JT’s was rad
Yeah and Serena Williams and Kanye should go to the same manners reform school! Don’t know if you caught Serena’s act, but it was even worse.
Anyway, I get so tired of these celebs thinking that they are above the rules and that they don’t have to abide by those things that you and I call decent values.
Great post!
Kanye….I don’t think there is anything that he would ever be sorry about, his ego is just way to bloated, and they said money could not buy class, and THEY were right:)
I agree with Shannon. He stooped to an all time low. I have a feeling Taylor’s record sales are going to sky rocket as a result of this…
What I think is truly funny is that every media account I read only had those first few sentences. No one mentioned the downhill apology from there. This is the first time I’ve read the whole thing (heaven forbid I go to his site and give the attention-whore the slightest bit of satisfaction), and…wow. That truly is one crappy “apology.”
The ALL CAPS adds class, too, don’t you think?
I thought of your pillow, too – I said as soon as I heard about it that I just knew you must have grabbed a pillow when that happened! That was NOT the worst apology ever, though. His apology on Leno’s show last night was worse. He basically said the same thing, just worded it a little differently. Even though he said he was wrong he said he did it because of his own hurt, and because he doesn’t take enough time off. He clearly doesn’t feel any remorse for what he did. He just seemed angry, and the only time he seemed emotional was when Leno asked about his Mom. This is par for the course for him – he’s done this sort of thing before and I’m sure he’ll do it again. He’s just a jerk who is desperate for attention.
I am so glad you wrote about this, because I feel like an idiot but I CANNOT STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. I missed it live (the tv was on mute at the time) but I watched the video yesterday and I was just floored. Dude, no matter how much you disagree with the judging, if Taylor’s video was terrible and Beyonce’s was the best one ever made, that STILL would have been horrible. He ruined what was probably the most memorable moment Taylor’s life up to this point. And for what? Nothing changed. And then Beyonce’s video won an even BIGGER award and he just looked like a bigger ass. If that was possible.
His PR people really, really need to shut down that blog for about 10,000 reasons. The ALL CAPS AND THE CRAZY PUNCTUATION ARE ONLY PART OF THE PROBLEM DAWG!!!!! THAT’S THE REAL WORLD!! SORRY BUT THATS HOW IT IS!!!