Monkey Business: Apologies of the Week

A tale of competing Charlottes and a tone-deaf promo were behind some of the public apologies making headlines this week:

• Royal mess: "We deeply apologize for causing trouble to many people over the naming of the first baby [monkey]. We take these opinions seriously."—Japan zoo, after naming its new monkey Charlotte, same as a slightly more famous newborn. (The zoo isn't changing the name, though.)
• Foul: "Domestic violence is a very serious matter and has no place in a parody video that plays in an entertainment venue. We sincerely apologize to those who have been affected by domestic violence for the obvious negative feelings caused by being exposed to this insensitive video."—Cleveland Cavaliers, after airing a spoof video in which a man injures a woman because she wasn't a true fan.
• Correction: "Nobody has been shot. No police officer has pulled the trigger. And on behalf of Mike Tobin and the rest of our crew there and he rest of us at Fox News, I am very sorry for the error and glad we were able to correct it quickly."—Shep Smith, after a Fox reporter mistakenly asserted that a Baltimore cop shot a fleeing suspect this week.

• On second thought: "In no way did I mean to imply that because of our community’s makeup, there was a higher risk of ISIS threats. If a misunderstanding occurred, and it must have, that was never my intent. For that, I apologize.”—Carmen Harlan, news anchor at Detroit's WDIV-TV, after saying this following a story about an ISIS threat in Michigan: "Given the fact that we have the largest Arab population outside of the Middle East, I guess this should not come as a real surprise."
• Hip hop peace: "See the way the world works, they want all blacks to kill each other. But we’re not. Black lives matter, so I salute Game, I respect him, and I’m sorry for making that post about him."—Rapper Young Thug to fellow rapper The Game. It followed a nasty war of words.

(More apology stories.)