Who’s Sorry Now?

A wise person once said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." As proponents of the First Amendment, KING-MAG.com says, "If you don't have anything nice to say, say it anyway. But make sure you have a damn good apology." Here are the apologies we accept and the ones we do not.

The Apologist: Isiah Washington

The Incident: After allegedly calling Grey's Anatomy co-star T.R. Knight a "faggot” during an onset argument, Washington was asked to verify whether the incident was true or not backstage at the 2007 Golden Globes. Washington replied, "No, I did not call T.R. a faggot. Never happened, never happened.”

The Apology: "I apologize to T.R., my colleagues, the fans of the show and especially the lesbian and gay community for using a word that is unacceptable in any context or circumstance…” – issued in a written statement through an ABC Network publicist.

Acceptable or Unacceptable
Acceptable. Washington later met with the president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Neil Guiliano, without security.
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The Apologist: Senator Trent Lott

The Incident: Back in 2002, former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott claims the United States would have avoided "all these problems” if late segregationist Strom Thurmond had been elected president in 1948. Thus insinuating everyone might be better off with separate water fountains.

The Apology: "I have had African-Americans on my staff and other minorities…since the mid 1970's.” – said in an interview telecast on Black Entertainment Television.

Acceptable or Unacceptable
Unacceptable. We haven't watched BET since we were old enough to vote.

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The Apologist: Michael Richards

The Incident: After being heckled by black patrons at Los Angeles comedy club the Laugh Factory in 2006, Richards, best known as Kramer from Seinfield screamed to them, "You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now motherfucker. Throw his ass out. He's a nigger! He's a nigger! He's a nigger! A nigger, look, there's a nigger.”

The Apology: "For this to happen…I'm deeply, deeply sorry.” – Richards via satellite feed on the Late Show with David Letterman.

Acceptable or Unacceptable
Unacceptable. Richards can just go fork himself.
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The Apologist: George Allen

The Incident: At a campaign rally in southwest Virginia, Senator George Allen called a volunteer for his opponent, Democrat James Webb, a "macaca”.

The Apology: "I would never want to demean him as an individual. I do apologize if he's offended by that. That was no way the point. I don't know what it means.”

Acceptable or Unacceptable
Unacceptable. The editors of KING-MAG.com don't know any macacas either, but we're sure they're still upset.

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The Apologist: Don Imus

The Incident: The host of "Imus in the Morning” called the Rutgers University Women's basketball team, "nappy headed hoes.”

The Apology: "…When I originally apologized on Friday, I apologized. And I didn't say what everybody said, you know, if I offended somebody, I'm sorry, because I knew I offended somebody. So I apologize…” – said during an interview on Al Sharpton's radio program.

Acceptable or Unacceptable
Unacceptable. If he's really sorry, he should apologize to the whole team and play each of them one-on-one. No fouls.