A Badly Timed Joke: Apologies of the Week

Examples of bad judgment abound in some of the public apologies making headlines this week:

• Out of bounds: "It was a mistake to use an old joke about Joe Biden during his time of grief, and I sincerely apologize."—Ted Cruz, after publicly mocking the VP just days after his son died.
• Dangerous soda? "Ms. Ahmad was our customer and we apologize to her for what occurred on the flight."—United Airlines, after a flight attendant refused to give a Muslim passenger a can of Diet Coke for fear it would be used "as a weapon." (She says her non-Muslim seatmate got a can of beer without any trouble.)

• Casting call: “Thank you so much for all the impassioned comments regarding the casting of the wonderful Emma Stone in the part of Allison Ng. I have heard your words and your disappointment, and I offer you a heart-felt apology to all who felt this was an odd or misguided casting choice."—Cameron Crowe, for casting Stone to play an Asian-American character in Aloha.
• That's harassment? "And while we have apologized to the student directly, we also want to publicly apologize for her behavior, which is not representative of KSU’s student-centered culture.” —Kennesaw State University, after one of its advisers was captured in a viral video accusing a student of harassment and calling campus police, all because he was waiting around for an adviser to become available. The adviser has to undergo training.
• Oh, George: "To Heidi, I personally apologize. You are a sweetheart. ... She was generous and gracious and I am so mad at myself for retelling this story in any way that would diminish her."—Jason Alexander, after the Seinfeld alum said the cast didn't like the character of Susan, played by Heidi Swedberg, and that's the reason she was killed off.

(More apology stories.)