15 Best Celebrity Apologies

Celebrities aren’t immune to saying things they will later regret, and making bad decisions that can cost them their careers. Many celebrities who have made mistakes in the past have gone to great lengths to right their wrongs. Instead of throwing up the middle finger to the world and the ones they’ve hurt, these celebs took the high road by penning heartfelt apology letters, and going on national television to express their remorse. There’s no blueprint on how an apology should be conducted, but we think these 15 celebrities did a pretty good job at owning up to their mistakes and apologizing for their actions.

15. Jonah Hill On Gay Pride

One photographer found out the hard way that making fun of Jonah Hill’s outfit would put him on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing. Hill spazzed out on the paparazzo by calling him a gay slur, and once the footage of the incident was released, Hill was immediately remorseful for his actions. In his apology, he acknowledged the homophobic slur was a word that he should have never used, and he understood the term was “rooted in hate.” We’re glad Hill owned up to his mistake, because he’s seriously one of the funniest and most lovable actors in the industry, and we would hate to have to write him off because of this incident.

14. Julianne Hough’s Crazy Eyes

Julianne Hough thought it would be a good idea to dress up as African American character “Crazy Eyes” of Orange is the New Black, but her costume raised more than a few eyebrows when she was photographed donning blackface. After the backlash, Hough said she was paying homage to one of her favorite characters on the show, and she didn’t mean for her costume to come across as disrespectful or demeaning.

13. Lance Armstrong’s So Dope

After admitting to doping and subsequently being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, Lance Armstrong gave an exclusive interview to Oprah Winfrey and admitted to lying throughout the duration of his career. The athlete said he realized he had made a huge mistake, and he was finally ready to apologize for his actions. We’re glad he finally came clean, but it sure did take him long enough to do so.

12. Tiger Woods’ Hole In One

It seems like it all happened overnight. Tiger Woods was transformed from a star athlete and wholesome family man, to an adulterer. After numerous mistresses of his came out of the woodwork, the pro golfer gave a press conference on national television to apologize for letting his then-wife, Elin Nordegren, and his family down. In his lengthy apology, Woods said he hoped Nordegren and the public would find it in their hearts to forgive him. Nordegren may not have accepted his apology, but it seems like the sports world and his fans have since moved on from this incident.

11. Ariana Grande Goes Jelly

When Ariana Grande was caught on camera licking donuts and expressing her hate for America and its citizens, the pop star was faced with intense backlash that even the most seasoned celeb would have crumbled under. But Ariana took it all in stride by owning up to her mistakes in a video apology, expressing how proud she was to be an American and proclaiming how happy she was for the advancements the country had made in recent years. She didn’t explain exactly why she licked the jelly donuts, but we’ll just chalk it up to the singer having a lapse in judgement and making a very bad decision.

10. Kobe Bryant Drops The Ball

When former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, was accused of sexual assault, the basketball player’s life seemed to unravel before our eyes. Many young kids and adults looked up to Bryant as an athlete and a role model, so when this bombshell was revealed, Bryant knew he had to make amends with his wife and his fans by giving a public apology. He took part in a press conference and discussed just how remorseful he was for his actions. Although many people have not forgotten the case, most sports fans have chosen to forgive Bryant for his indiscretions.

9. Arnold Schwarzenegger Love Child Woes

The world was rocked when actor and former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, revealed he had cheated on his wife, Maria Shriver, and had fathered a son with his family’s housekeeper. Schwarzenegger was finally ready to fess up and come clean to the world by giving a public apology for disappointing his “friends and family.” He took full responsibility for his actions, and although he apologized profusely to Shriver, their marriage was irretrievably broken.

8. Kristen Stewart’s Snowed In

In 2012, Kristen Stewart was photographed locking lips with Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders, while she was still in a relationship with her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson. The shocking photos forced Stewart to own up to her mistake and issue an apology to Pattinson. Stewart and Pattinson reconciled briefly, but their relationship eventually came to an end. Sanders didn’t have much luck with his relationship either. He was married at the time the photos were published, and he and his wife decided to go their separate ways in 2014.

7. Chris Brown

Chris Brown and Rihanna seemed to have the perfect relationship, but everything came crashing down when Brown was arrested for assaulting her back in 2009. After the incident, Brown posted a public apology on his official website. He repeatedly apologized to Rihanna for the incident, and said he felt ashamed by his own conduct. Rihanna eventually forgave him, and the two even reconciled briefly back in 2012 and recorded the duet “Birthday Cake.” Their love has since fizzled out, and they have both moved on. It’s probably all for the best.

6. Hugh Grant Gets Down And Dirty

Hugh Grant was humiliated when he was arrested for lewd conduct with a prostitute back in 1995. The actor, who feared losing his career in the entertainment industry, appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to talk about the awkward situation. Grant was open and honest during the candid interview. He said, ”I think you know in life what’s a good thing to do and what’s a bad thing. I did a bad thing, and there you have it.” Needless to say, his fans and the industry have accepted his apology.

5. Reese Witherspoon’s Name Means Something

Reese Witherspoon and her husband had a bit too much to drink one night, and after getting pulled over by law enforcement, Witherspoon went on a drunken rant in which she asked the arresting officer, “Do you know my name? You’re about to find out!” She and her husband were arrested, and Witherspoon later expressed remorse over the entire situation. She admitted she had drank one too many glasses of wine and had embarrassed herself. She apologized to the police officer for her behavior, and thankfully for Witherspoon, her image as Hollywood’s sweetheart hasn’t been tarnished too much by her drunken antics.

4. David Letterman’s Blackmail Scandal

In 2009, funnyman David Letterman put the jokes aside to reveal he was the target of a blackmail attempt for various sexual relationships he had with his show’s staff members. He came clean about the affairs, and later apologized to his wife for the infidelities. Thankfully, he and his wife were able to make it through that rough time in their lives, and they remain together to this day.

3. Kanye West Owns Your Son

Kanye West is constantly sticking his foot in his mouth, but the rapper is able to realize when he has made a mistake, and he has never been afraid to apologize for his actions. After verbally attacking Wiz Khalifa on Twitter, and telling the rapper that he “owned” his son, West realized the mistake he had made. He later deleted the tweets and expressed his regret for his words. He said he was “deeply apologetic” because he’d rather be an entertainer who is dishing out positive energy in the entertainment industry, than one that’s stirring up drama.

2. Justin Bieber Was “Just A Kid”

In 2014, a video was leaked of Justin Bieber making a racist joke. The singer released a written apology, citing his young age as the reason for his ignorance. Bieber was just 15-years-old at the time the video was recorded, and he said he was just “a kid” who didn’t understand the “power of certain words and how they can hurt.” It’s safe to say, his fans and the industry have since forgiven him, but this wasn’t the first, or the last time Bieber had to apologize for his indiscretions.

1. Justin Timberlake On Nipplegate

Back in 2004, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson felt the heat after their risqué Super Bowl performance, and Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction. Everyone from network executives to viewers were upset by the flashy display, and Timberlake decided it would be best to issue a public statement about the incident. He said when he ripped off Jackson’s wardrobe and exposed her breast, it was “unintentional and completely regrettable,” and he apologized to those who were offended. Both singers’ careers have been able to bounce back after the entire “Nipplegate,” but we definitely won’t ever forget it.