The year 2020, characterized by its unpredictable nature, proved to be a stage where celebrities found themselves compelled to issue apologies for a spectrum of reasons. Ranging from seemingly trivial matters, such as John Mulaney's absence from a comedy festival to host Saturday Night Live, to weightier controversies like Lea Michele facing accusations of creating a hostile environment on the set of Glee, celebrities turned to platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to seek redemption in the eyes of their fans. As the curtain falls on a year marked by apologies, these personalities stand among the many who took to social media, uttering the words, "I'm sorry."
In the realm of celebrity apologies, Wendy Williams found herself extending regrets in January. After making comments about Joaquin Phoenix being "oddly attractive" and engaging in mocking gestures related to what she perceived as his cleft lip or palate (which Phoenix clarified as a birthmark), Williams faced criticism from fans, Cher, and Canadian football player Adam Bighill. In response, the host of The Wendy Williams Show issued an apology directed at the "cleft community" and went a step further by contributing to Operation Smile and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.
Terry Crews, known for his outspoken demeanor, faced scrutiny in January for not vocally supporting his America's Got Talent co-star Gabrielle Union, who departed from the show in November amid allegations of racially insensitive incidents. While other celebrities like Debra Messing publicly stood by Union, Crews, who hosts AGT, only mentioned not experiencing racism on the show. He faced additional backlash for asserting that he only needed to please "one woman on earth," referring to his wife. Crews later extended an apology to Union, acknowledging that he "invalidated [her] experience." In June, he further admitted his wrongdoing, expressing regret for not recognizing the privilege he holds, especially in the workplace.
Following Union's revisit of the situation on a podcast, Crews issued a third apology in August, acknowledging, "This will be my 3rd public apology to Gabrielle Union. If a 4th is needed, I will continue to apologize and push for reconciliation between the world, and more importantly, the culture I grew up in."
Renowned for his impeccable apology finesse, John Mulaney entered the stage in February. Forced to cancel his appearance at the JFL42 festival in Toronto to host Saturday Night Live, Mulaney shared an Instagram note, purportedly written by SNL EP Lorne Michaels, explaining his duty. Humorously captioning the post with, "Also, I'm afraid of Lorne so I do what he says," Mulaney effortlessly blended sincerity with humor.
In a wholesome elementary school fundraiser gone awry, Disney imposed a $250 fine for the unlicensed screening of its remake of The Lion King. Bob Iger, Disney's executive chairman and former CEO, took to Twitter to offer an apology to Emerson Elementary School PTA. "Our company @WaltDisneyCo apologizes to the Emerson Elementary School PTA, and I will personally donate to their fundraising initiative," he pledged, concluding the episode on a conciliatory note.
