Apologies: When celebs offend | CNN

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Entertainment

Apologies: When celebs offend

Updated 12:28 PM EDT, Wed August 26, 2015
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Kelly Osbourne <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2015%2F08%2F04%2Fpolitics%2Fkelly-osbourne-donald-trump-latinos%2Findex.html" target="_blank">tried to call out Donald Trump</a> on ABC's "The View" over his comments about Latino immigrants, saying: "If you kick every Latino out of this country, then who is going to be cleaning your toilet, Donald Trump?" But her comment was not well received by the show's other co-hosts. She later went on Twitter to "take responsibility for my poor choice of words" but added, "I will not apologize for being a racist as I am NOT." Click through this gallery to see other celebrities and public figures who have apologized after being caught out for offensive behavior.
Kelly Osbourne tried to call out Donald Trump on ABC's "The View" over his comments about Latino immigrants, saying: "If you kick every Latino out of this country, then who is going to be cleaning your toilet, Donald Trump?" But her comment was not well received by the show's other co-hosts. She later went on Twitter to "take responsibility for my poor choice of words" but added, "I will not apologize for being a racist as I am NOT." Click through this gallery to see other celebrities and public figures who have apologized after being caught out for offensive behavior.
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
A transcript released by the National Enquirer detailed racist remarks wrestler Hulk Hogan made about the dating life of his daughter, Brooke. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2015%2F07%2F24%2Fentertainment%2Fhulk-hogan-wwe-apology-racism-feat%2F" target="_blank">Hogan issued an apology</a>, saying, "It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it."
A transcript released by the National Enquirer detailed racist remarks wrestler Hulk Hogan made about the dating life of his daughter, Brooke. Hogan issued an apology, saying, "It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it."
Mark Davis/Getty Images/File
When Paula Deen was being sued for racial discrimination in 2013, she admitted to using the N-word -- and the celebrity chef's career derailed. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F06%2F21%2Fshowbiz%2Fpaula-deen-racial-slur%2Findex.html" target="_blank">Deen tried to make amends with two different videotaped apologies</a>, but the execution just made matters worse.
When Paula Deen was being sued for racial discrimination in 2013, she admitted to using the N-word -- and the celebrity chef's career derailed. Deen tried to make amends with two different videotaped apologies, but the execution just made matters worse.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
Oscar-nominated star <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2015%2F01%2F27%2Fentertainment%2Fbenedict-cumberbatch-colored-apology%2Findex.html" target="_blank">Benedict Cumberbatch has apologized</a> for referring to black actors as "colored" during his interview with PBS' Tavis Smiley about the lack of diversity in the British film industry. Cumberbatch said he was an "idiot" and "devastated" at his choice of words.
Oscar-nominated star Benedict Cumberbatch has apologized for referring to black actors as "colored" during his interview with PBS' Tavis Smiley about the lack of diversity in the British film industry. Cumberbatch said he was an "idiot" and "devastated" at his choice of words.
ari Perilstein/Getty Images
Julianne Hough is such a fan of "Orange Is the New Black" that she thought it would be fun to dress up as one of her favorite characters, "Crazy Eyes," for Halloween in 2013. Yet Hough went too far when she <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2013%2F10%2F29%2Fshowbiz%2Fcelebrity-news-gossip%2Fjulianne-hough-blackface-dwts%2F" target="_blank">combined a prison orange jumpsuit with blackface</a>, prompting outrage and a swift apology from the dancer-actress.
Julianne Hough is such a fan of "Orange Is the New Black" that she thought it would be fun to dress up as one of her favorite characters, "Crazy Eyes," for Halloween in 2013. Yet Hough went too far when she combined a prison orange jumpsuit with blackface, prompting outrage and a swift apology from the dancer-actress.
Shahar Azran/WireImage/Getty
Justin Bieber <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F06%2F01%2Fshowbiz%2Fjustin-bieber-racist-joke%2F" target="_blank">took responsibility for using racial slurs </a>as a teen. In two videos that surfaced in June 2014, a younger Bieber can be seen using the N-word on two separate occasions -- instances that he says were the result of his own ignorance.
Justin Bieber took responsibility for using racial slurs as a teen. In two videos that surfaced in June 2014, a younger Bieber can be seen using the N-word on two separate occasions -- instances that he says were the result of his own ignorance.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images/File
Mel Gibson was being interviewed about his film "Edge of Darkness" in 2010 when a reporter asked him <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DMxZRfn2Rgqg" target="_blank" target="_blank">asked about various scandals</a>, including an anti-Semitic rant in 2006.  "That's almost four years ago, dude," Gibson said. "I've moved on. I guess you haven't." The actor could be heard calling the reporter an a**hole at the end. After the 2006 incident, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2010%2FSHOWBIZ%2Fcelebrity.news.gossip%2F07%2F09%2Fmel.gibson.rant%2F">Gibson issued an apology</a> and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2006%2FSHOWBIZ%2FMovies%2F07%2F31%2Fgibson.dui%2F">appealed to the Jewish community</a> to help him recover from his alcohol addiction.
Mel Gibson was being interviewed about his film "Edge of Darkness" in 2010 when a reporter asked him asked about various scandals, including an anti-Semitic rant in 2006. "That's almost four years ago, dude," Gibson said. "I've moved on. I guess you haven't." The actor could be heard calling the reporter an a**hole at the end. After the 2006 incident, Gibson issued an apology and appealed to the Jewish community to help him recover from his alcohol addiction.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
In a 2014 Playboy interview, Gary Oldman waded into controversies involving remarks by fellow actors Mel Gibson and Alec Baldwin. Oldman's comments were slammed by Jewish groups, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F06%2F25%2Fshowbiz%2Fcelebrity-news-gossip%2Fgary-oldman-rant-apology-playboy%2F" target="_blank">prompting a letter from Oldman apologizing</a> and saying he was "deeply remorseful."
In a 2014 Playboy interview, Gary Oldman waded into controversies involving remarks by fellow actors Mel Gibson and Alec Baldwin. Oldman's comments were slammed by Jewish groups, prompting a letter from Oldman apologizing and saying he was "deeply remorseful."
Getty Images
"Seinfeld" star Michael Richards went from beloved comic actor to persona non grata after <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmz.com%2F2006%2F11%2F20%2Fkramers-racist-tirade-caught-on-tape%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">he erupted during a standup performance in November 2006</a>, screaming racial slurs at an African-American man in the audience. After video of his tirade went viral, Richards appeared on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" to say that he was <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2006%2FSHOWBIZ%2FTV%2F11%2F22%2Fsharpton.richard%2F">"deeply, deeply sorry."</a>
"Seinfeld" star Michael Richards went from beloved comic actor to persona non grata after he erupted during a standup performance in November 2006, screaming racial slurs at an African-American man in the audience. After video of his tirade went viral, Richards appeared on CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" to say that he was "deeply, deeply sorry."
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Leaked audio recordings of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racially charged remarks led to him being forced to sell the NBA team. Sterling told CNN's Anderson Cooper that he had been "baited" into making what he called "terrible" remarks. Sterling <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2014%2F05%2F12%2Fus%2Fdonald-sterling-interview%2F" target="_blank">repeatedly apologized and denied accusations that he's racist.</a><br />
Leaked audio recordings of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racially charged remarks led to him being forced to sell the NBA team. Sterling told CNN's Anderson Cooper that he had been "baited" into making what he called "terrible" remarks. Sterling repeatedly apologized and denied accusations that he's racist.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
John Mayer's controversial 2010 interview with Playboy magazine brought so much heat for the singer-songwriter <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmarquee.blogs.cnn.com%2F2010%2F02%2F11%2Fjohn-mayer-keeps-tweeting-chokes-up-on-stage%2F" target="_blank">that he ended up crying during his apology</a>. Mayer, who used the N-word in the interview and claimed that he has a "white supremacist" penis, first gave a Twitter apology and then a <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com%2F43935847.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">tearful, public one during a concert in Nashville. </a>
John Mayer's controversial 2010 interview with Playboy magazine brought so much heat for the singer-songwriter that he ended up crying during his apology. Mayer, who used the N-word in the interview and claimed that he has a "white supremacist" penis, first gave a Twitter apology and then a tearful, public one during a concert in Nashville.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARAS
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F1723166-riley-cooper-caught-on-tape-saying-racial-slur-at-concert" target="_blank" target="_blank">apologized after being caught on video</a> uttering a racial slur at a concert. "My actions were inexcusable. The more I think about what I did, the more disgusted I get. ... I'm going to be speaking with a variety of professionals to help me better understand how I could have done something that was so offensive."
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper apologized after being caught on video uttering a racial slur at a concert. "My actions were inexcusable. The more I think about what I did, the more disgusted I get. ... I'm going to be speaking with a variety of professionals to help me better understand how I could have done something that was so offensive."
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Charlie Sheen <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmarquee.blogs.cnn.com%2F2012%2F12%2F31%2Fcharlie-sheen-apologizes-for-gay-slur%2F" target="_blank">apologized in 2012 for a homophobic slur he made</a>. According to the Los Angeles Times, Sheen was <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Flatimesblogs.latimes.com%2Flanow%2F2012%2F12%2Fcharlie-sheen-apologizes-for-homophobic-slur-.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">emceeing the opening of a bar at a seaside restaurant in Mexico</a> when he used the offensive word. "How we doing?" Sheen says <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmz.com%2F2012%2F12%2F30%2Fcharlie-sheen-homophobic-slur-bar-mexico-faggot%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">in a video that TMZ posted</a>. "Lying bunch of (slur)...how we doing?" Sheen very quickly issued an apology. "I meant no ill will and intended to hurt no one and I apologize if I offended anyone," he said in the statement.
Charlie Sheen apologized in 2012 for a homophobic slur he made. According to the Los Angeles Times, Sheen was emceeing the opening of a bar at a seaside restaurant in Mexico when he used the offensive word. "How we doing?" Sheen says in a video that TMZ posted. "Lying bunch of (slur)...how we doing?" Sheen very quickly issued an apology. "I meant no ill will and intended to hurt no one and I apologize if I offended anyone," he said in the statement.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman's reality show was <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2009%2FSHOWBIZ%2FTV%2F04%2F16%2Fdog.racial.slur%2Findex.html" target="_blank">briefly suspended in 2007</a> after his son recorded a profanity-laced conversation in which Chapman repeatedly used the N-word. Chapman <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.people.com%2Fpeople%2Farticle%2F0%2C%2C20156035%2C00.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">issued an apology</a>, saying, "I am deeply disappointed in myself for speaking out of anger to my son and using such a hateful term. ... I should have never used that term."
Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman's reality show was briefly suspended in 2007 after his son recorded a profanity-laced conversation in which Chapman repeatedly used the N-word. Chapman issued an apology, saying, "I am deeply disappointed in myself for speaking out of anger to my son and using such a hateful term. ... I should have never used that term."
Scott Olson/Getty Images

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