Celebs Who Apologized for Old Tweets But Kept the Behavior

What people post online stays there forever, and it can cause problems for celebrities long after it’s been shared. We’ve seen many famous individuals face criticism when old, problematic posts – like insensitive jokes or angry outbursts – reappear online. While most offer apologies and promise to do better, some celebrities keep repeating the same mistakes. This article looks at famous people who’ve apologized for their online actions, only to find themselves in trouble again later.

Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen gained a large following by being open and outspoken on social media. However, her career faced challenges when past tweets containing harsh and abusive comments towards Courtney Stodden, who was a teenager at the time, came to light. Teigen publicly apologized, admitting she had been an insecure attention-seeker. Later, further accusations of bullying and negative behavior surfaced, with many questioning the sincerity of her apology, as reports of similar actions continued to emerge.

Kevin Hart

After problematic, old tweets with homophobic language surfaced, Kevin Hart resigned as host of the Oscars. He first resisted apologizing, but later expressed regret to the LGBTQ+ community as the issue gained attention. However, he then faced criticism for seemingly downplaying the seriousness of his past comments in interviews and documentaries. Hart often argued he was a target of “cancel culture” instead of showing genuine growth. Many felt his reactions indicated he hadn’t truly changed his views.

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr’s popular sitcom was quickly cancelled after she posted a racist tweet about a former Obama administration official. At first, she claimed a sleep aid, Ambien, was to blame and apologized for her actions. However, she later took back her apology and started offering strange justifications for her comments in interviews. She continued to share conspiracy theories and controversial content, distancing herself from those she used to work with. Ultimately, instead of trying to fix the situation, the comedian embraced the controversy.

Azealia Banks

I’ve been following Azealia Banks for a while now, and it’s sadly become a pattern with her. She repeatedly uses hurtful, homophobic and racist language when she’s fighting with other artists online. She’ll apologize, saying she wants to do better and change, but then she always goes back to making those same kinds of attacks. It’s gotten to the point where a lot of us fans don’t really expect her to change her behavior, because this cycle of outbursts and quick apologies has become so characteristic of her public image.

Shane Dawson

As a long-time observer of online culture, I remember when Shane Dawson really fell from grace. Old videos popped up showing him in blackface and making really disturbing jokes about kids. He responded with a video called ‘Taking Accountability,’ where he apologized and said he’d learned from his mistakes and wanted to be a better role model. But when he came back online, a lot of people weren’t buying it. It felt like he hadn’t really changed, and he was still hanging around with people who had caused trouble before. Honestly, his attempt to start fresh just didn’t convince many of us that he’d truly grown.

Jeffree Star

Jeffree Star has repeatedly apologized for hurtful and offensive language he used in older videos from when he first started online. He claims he’s changed a lot since then, but he’s consistently faced new accusations of bullying and controlling behavior in the beauty world. When confronted about these claims, he often became defensive and aggressive, suggesting he hadn’t fully moved past that earlier behavior.

Doja Cat

Doja Cat received strong criticism after videos emerged showing her in online chat rooms associated with far-right groups. While she publicly apologized and said she didn’t participate in racist discussions, she acknowledged she shouldn’t have been in those spaces. Later, she faced further backlash for making fun of her fans on social media, telling them to stop using their phones and find employment. This behavior led to a loss of followers and suggested her earlier controversies weren’t one-time occurrences, but part of a larger pattern of dismissive behavior towards her audience.

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin has repeatedly used harsh and offensive language online. He previously apologized for using a homophobic slur during a public argument with a photographer and pledged to support the LGBTQ community. However, he has continued to get into online fights, using inappropriate language towards those who criticize him, including journalists. Over time, he’s consistently deleted his social media accounts only to return and repeat this behavior.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg faced suspension from her talk show after stating the Holocaust wasn’t about race. She apologized in writing, saying she supported the Jewish community. However, she later made similar comments in an interview, suggesting the Holocaust was a conflict between white people. This sparked renewed criticism and made people doubt the genuineness of her apology. Jewish groups voiced their disappointment that she didn’t seem to understand the importance of recognizing the racial aspect of the Holocaust.

DaBaby

DaBaby received strong criticism for making offensive comments about HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community during a festival performance. He first defended his statements, but later posted an apology on Instagram as festivals began canceling his appearances. However, he quickly deleted that apology. Following this, he released music videos that seemed to make fun of those who criticized him and tried to get him removed from festivals. This led many to believe his apology wasn’t sincere and was only meant to protect his career.

Kathy Griffin

Kathy Griffin’s career suffered greatly after she shared a photo of herself with a mask that looked like the severed head of Donald Trump, leading to a federal investigation. While she first apologized in a tearful video, admitting she’d gone too far, she later took back that apology and said she didn’t regret making the political statement. Griffin then started selling items related to the incident and incorporated it into her comedy shows, deciding that defending her actions was more important than being forgiven by the public.

Chris Brown

Chris Brown has repeatedly apologized for his past violent behavior and angry outbursts online. He often asks people to forgive his mistakes and focus on his current work as an artist. However, he continues to get into heated arguments online and has faced legal consequences related to his temper. Brown frequently responds to criticism by attacking those who mention his criminal history. Because he keeps finding himself in trouble, many people don’t find his apologies sincere.

Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres became well-known for promoting kindness, but her show faced accusations of having a negative and harmful work environment. While she initially apologized and said she didn’t know about the problems, promising to fix them, she later seemed to downplay the seriousness of the complaints, even making jokes about it. This, combined with her eventual decision to end the show, suggested she never truly took accountability for the workplace culture that developed under her leadership.

Lea Michele

Lea Michele recently apologized for how she acted in the past, following accusations from former coworkers that she made their work environment unpleasant. While she said she didn’t recall the specific incidents, she expressed a desire to improve how she treats others. There have been ongoing reports of her being difficult to work with, even on later projects. As a result of the criticism and online jokes, Michele stepped back from social media. Many of her former colleagues, however, questioned the sincerity of her apology.

Sharon Osbourne

Sharon Osbourne quit her talk show after a contentious discussion where she supported Piers Morgan amidst accusations of racism. Initially, she apologized for how she reacted, stating she doesn’t support racism. However, she quickly changed her tune, later claiming the network manipulated her and that her apology wasn’t genuine. Following her departure, Osbourne continued to publicly criticize both her former colleagues and the show itself. This complete reversal – from apologizing to blaming others – happened very quickly.

Iggy Azalea

Iggy Azalea received significant backlash early in her career due to old, offensive tweets that contained racist and homophobic ideas. She apologized for these posts, explaining them as mistakes she made when she was younger and less aware. However, she continued to be accused of borrowing from Black culture and using speech patterns associated with it in her music. Azalea often argued with her critics on Twitter, and these public disagreements frequently drew more attention than her efforts to address and move beyond the original controversy.

Logan Paul

Logan Paul faced intense online backlash after posting a video in Japan that showed a deceased individual. He apologized repeatedly and pledged to use his online presence to raise awareness about mental health. Later, he became entangled in a cryptocurrency scheme that resulted in significant financial losses for his followers. He first reacted by threatening legal action against reporters investigating the situation, but later issued another apology. Throughout his career, Paul has repeatedly made serious mistakes and then tried to repair the damage to his public image.

Jake Paul

Jake Paul has apologized for bothering his neighbors and acting out when he was on Disney Channel. He says he’s growing up and wants to concentrate on boxing and his businesses. However, he continued to be involved in questionable activities, like looting during protests and throwing large parties during the pandemic. He still relies on creating controversy online to get attention and views, suggesting he believes negative publicity is good for his career, even more so than changing his behavior.

Vanessa Hudgens

At the beginning of the pandemic, Vanessa Hudgens received criticism for a video where she said people dying was unavoidable. She quickly apologized in writing, admitting her comments were insensitive and poorly timed. However, she later made statements that downplayed the seriousness of the virus, and continued to share content that many felt ignored the struggles people were facing. Many people believed her apology was more about protecting her image than expressing genuine concern.

Matt Damon

Matt Damon faced criticism for two recent incidents. First, he apologized for explaining diversity to a Black female producer on a TV show, acknowledging he should have listened instead. He then admitted he’d only recently stopped using an offensive anti-gay term after his daughter pointed it out, showing a lack of awareness despite past statements about improving. Since then, Damon has been more reserved when discussing social issues.

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson caused public outrage when he revealed he once harbored violent thoughts about killing a Black man after a friend was attacked. He quickly apologized and stated he is not racist. However, he became defensive when questioned about the racial aspects of the story, appearing annoyed that people weren’t willing to accept his explanation and move past the incident. For a while, Neeson stepped back from public appearances and press events, seemingly hoping the controversy would fade without further discussion or self-reflection.

Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks recently apologized for moments on her old modeling show that were seen as insensitive after being shared on TikTok. While admitting some of her decisions weren’t right in retrospect and wouldn’t be made today, she also explained that her demanding coaching style was intended to prepare contestants for the realities of the industry. Despite the apology, Banks has continued to receive criticism regarding how she treated participants on her other competition shows, seemingly struggling to reconcile her past actions with her belief that her approach was ultimately helpful.

James Charles

James Charles experienced a major backlash and lost millions of followers when a former mentor publicly accused him of inappropriate and exploitative behavior. He initially responded with an emotional apology video that many criticized, then released a second video denying the accusations. Later, Charles admitted to sending improper messages to underage fans and apologized again. Despite the controversy, he quickly resumed creating content without making substantial changes to his online persona. Even after multiple apologies, Charles continues to be criticized for how he interacts with his younger fans.

David Dobrik

Following a serious accident involving heavy machinery and accusations of assault among his friends, David Dobrik resigned from his company. He apologized in two videos, acknowledging his responsibility for the environment he created and the resulting injuries. While legal cases related to the accident were ongoing, Dobrik gradually returned to making videos and even started a pizza business. However, many observers noticed his content remained largely unchanged despite the serious consequences of past actions. Once he resumed posting, Dobrik generally avoided addressing the incidents further.

Laura Lee

Laura Lee, a beauty influencer, faced criticism when old, racist tweets she’d made reappeared online. She responded with a video apology where she cried, but later made jokes about the video itself after it became a popular meme. This made it difficult for her to rebuild her career, as many questioned how genuine her apology was. By making light of the situation, she lost the support of people who had been willing to give her a second chance.

Tana Mongeau

Tana Mongeau has repeatedly apologized for various issues, including problems with events, offensive old tweets, and claims that she scammed people. She often posts videos saying she’s trying to grow up and handle her career more professionally. However, she still presents herself as someone who’s always getting into trouble. Her public image seems to depend on creating drama, apologizing, and then repeating the cycle to stay in the spotlight. Many fans now anticipate that any apology from her will be followed by another controversy.

Cardi B

Cardi B has apologized for past hurtful language targeting the transgender community, explaining she didn’t understand the impact of her words at the time. She said she wants to be more respectful of LGBTQ+ people and learn from her errors. However, she continues to use harsh language online and get into heated arguments with fans of other artists. It’s a pattern: she’ll sometimes delete her Twitter account, but always comes back and repeats the same behavior. Unfortunately, her apologies are often followed by explanations and justifications that undo any positive impression they might have created.

Hartley Sawyer

After old, offensive tweets containing misogynistic and racist content surfaced, Hartley Sawyer was let go from his role on a superhero TV show. He apologized, saying he’d matured and taken responsibility for his past actions. However, instead of trying to show that change publicly, he stepped away from the industry. His apology was essentially his last public statement, and his career never recovered, preventing any further problematic behavior from occurring in the public eye.

Sia

Sia received strong criticism for how she depicted autism in her first film as a director. After disagreeing with autistic critics online, she offered a short apology and said she’d edit some problematic scenes. She then deleted her Twitter account, but the film was released with most of the controversial parts still included. Later, Sia shared that the stress from the backlash led her to seek treatment in rehab. Her defensive reactions throughout the situation deeply upset many in the disability community.

Morgan Wallen

After a video showed Morgan Wallen using a racial slur near his house, his record label temporarily suspended him. He apologized in a video, asking fans not to defend his actions and vowing to learn from the experience. Surprisingly, his album sales increased dramatically right after the incident, and he quickly resumed touring. Since then, he’s largely avoided detailed conversations about race and has successfully returned to performing and recording. This quick recovery has led some to question how much he truly reflected on his actions.

Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan faced removal from the wrestling hall of fame when a private recording surfaced revealing him using racist language. He issued an apology and sought forgiveness from fans and colleagues. While he was later welcomed back, he continued to make statements that many considered insensitive regarding the situation. Hogan often framed himself as the victim of a privacy breach, rather than acknowledging the harm caused by his words. Ultimately, he returned to television without fully addressing the racial issues at hand.

Gina Rodriguez

Gina Rodriguez received criticism after a video surfaced of her singing a racial slur while rapping along to a song on Instagram. She quickly apologized, explaining she’d grown up hearing the song and didn’t intend to cause offense. However, this incident followed previous criticism she’d received for comments considered insensitive towards Black people and other minority groups. Many felt her apology didn’t address a recurring pattern of such behavior, and she subsequently became less active on social media to avoid further discussion.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber issued a sincere apology after old videos surfaced showing him telling a racist joke and using offensive language as a teenager. He explained he was young and didn’t fully grasp the harm those words could cause. Though he largely avoided further racial controversies, he continued to face legal and behavioral problems for several years. While many accepted his apology for the racist incident itself, it took much longer for people to feel confident about his overall change in behavior. Bieber later said that finding religion and getting married were key to helping him mature and turn his life around.

50 Cent

50 Cent has apologized to Megan Thee Stallion for sharing memes that made fun of her shooting. He says he didn’t fully understand how serious the situation was at first. However, he continues to use Instagram to post critical and sometimes offensive content, often targeting people he used to be close to or work with. While his apology to Megan was unusual, he generally uses social media to publicly criticize others.

Tell us which celebrity apology you found the least convincing in the comments.

2026-01-20 19:19