WTF: Stop Apologizing, Hollywood!

Posted by Kevin Carr (kevin@filmschoolrejects.com) on November 12, 2008

When we were kids on the playground, faced with an altercation, the teacher usually intervened and demanded that we apologize to everyone. But we all know that even if the school bully says he’s sorry, he really isn’t. He’s just saying that to get out of trouble.

In the real world (if you consider the entertainment industry the “real world”), anyone will tell you that apologies mean nothing. Case in point…

Did anyone give Michael Richards a bye after his chronic apologies to the black community after his N-word peppered rant at the Laugh Factory? Did the producers of Grey’s Anatomy give Isaiah Washington his job back for calling his co-star T.R. Knight a “faggot” on set and allegedly backstage at the Golden Globes? Did that poor college girl forgive Andy Dick for apologizing after peeing on her at the Funny Bone in Columbus, Ohio?

Nope. These folks apologized and apologized and apologized… but they still lost work over it.

Face it, people, apologizing is overrated. And you’re celebrities, after all. Aren’t you supposed to say stupid things?

The latest public apology has come from Mickey Rourke, who used the Isaiah Washington-inspired F-word to a paparazzo when asked about his rumored (and pretty creepy) relationship with his Wrestler co-star Evan Rachel Wood.

Here’s what Rourke said:

She’s a good friend, that’s it. Tell that faggot who wrote all that shit in the paper I’d like to break his fucking legs.

And people are offended at the anti-gay remark? What the f-word?

How bad has political correctness become that people are up-in-arms about a schoolyard slur but totally okay with a threat of violence? I guess Mickey Rourke can break as many bones as he’d like… just don’t call someone a faggot in the process.

Of course, Rourke has come out an apologized. He said in a prepared statement:

I want to sincerely apologize for the derogatory word I used. It was insensitive and inappropriate of me and I am deeply sorry that I may have offended anyone.

Curious. No word about being sorry for threatening to break a guy’s legs.

Still… I’m sure Rourke wrote that himself. And I’m sure he means it. He sincerely means it.

Quit apologizing, Mickey Rourke. You’re making yourself look like a fa…naw, I’m not going there.

Read more articles by Kevin Carr