Best and Worst Celebrity Apologies of 2023

By Thomas Mustac, Public Relations Specialist — Otter PR  

2023 offered several studies on use cases of making amends with some of the best and worst celebrity apologies to date. The best were authentic, but the worst amounted to lame versions of “Sorry, not sorry.”

Best celebrity apologies of 2023

When a celebrity swiftly addresses controversy and admits their mistake, the public can be forgiving. For example, when a comment actor Emily Blunt made 12 years ago on the “Jonathan Ross Show” reappeared this year on TikTok and X this week, a whole new generation watched a younger Blunt telling a story in which she described a Louisiana waitress as “enormous.” This time, the comment sparked backlash with viewers calling Blunt “fatphobic.”

Even though the statement was made over a decade ago, Blunt responded without excuses in People magazine. She said, “I was appalled that I would say something so insensitive, hurtful, and unrelated to whatever story I was trying to tell on a talk show….I’ve always considered myself someone who wouldn’t dream of upsetting anyone, so whatever possessed me to say anything like this in that moment is unrecognizable to me or anything I stand for. And yet it happened, and I said it, and I’m so sorry for any hurt caused. I was absolutely old enough to know better.”

Blunt wasn’t the only one eating her words last year. In 2023, several public figures used social media posts to acknowledge errors, demonstrate vulnerability, and take responsibility. One of these celebrities was actor Jamie Foxx who, after being betrayed by a friend, lashed out on Instagram. 

At first glance, many took Foxx’s post as antisemitic. The now-deleted post read, “They killed this dude named Jesus… what do you think they’ll do to you?”

The hashtags “fake friends” and “fake love” make it clear that Foxx’s post was referring to traitors like Judas Iscariot and not Jewish people, but rather than trying to make excuses or prove his point, Foxx deleted the post and apologized. 

“I now know my choice of words have caused offense, and I’m sorry,” Foxx said in his apology. “That was never my intent. I love and support the Jewish community. My deepest apologies to anyone who was offended. Nothing but love always.”

Though Foxx’s apology met with a mixed reaction, he received primarily positive feedback overall because his apology demonstrated emotional intelligence through inclusive language. Even unintentional and hasty words can cause damage, but inclusive language acknowledges an action’s impact on affected groups and displays empathy toward the people harmed.

Worst celebrity apologies of 2023

Not all the apologies in 2023 went over quite so well. When celebrities issued apologies that lacked genuine remorse, sincerity, or accountability, the situation often became worse. These apologies failed to connect with the public and only served to erode trust further.

High-profile apologies that avoid acknowledging the core issue lead to confusion or backlash from the public. For example, when backup dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez sued Lizzo for subjecting them to a toxic work environment in which they endured weight shaming and pressure to touch nude performers, Lizzo’s subsequent apology fell flat. 

The singer’s lengthy response on social media fell short of an authentic apology because it focused mainly on how the incident impacted her. She posted, “These last few days have been gut-wrenchingly difficult and overwhelmingly disappointing. My work ethic, morals, and respectfulness have been questioned. My character has been criticized. Usually, I choose not to respond to false allegations, but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed.”

Unfortunately, when celebrities and their PR teams botch apologies with ineffective statements and crisis management strategies, it typically worsens the consequences of the controversy. Poorly managed apologies like this one negatively impact celebrities’ reputations, potentially affecting their future careers and long-term public perception.