ApologifyLewis Hamilton Takes Responsibility; Mel Gibson Deflects
Lewis Hamilton shows why owning specific comments matters, though his promise to improve lacks detail. Mel Gibson shows how blaming pressure undermines an apology.
Every week we read the public apologies so you don’t have to, and score each one on what it admits, explains and repairs. These are the 7 that mattered between Aug 24 – 30, 2026. Disagree? Give your own score under each one.
Lewis Hamilton
Owns his radio and TV comments, but offers only a promise to be better.
“But that wasn't the best version of me. I take responsibility for that, and I'll be better.”
Lewis Hamilton publicly apologised after criticising Ferrari’s strategy during and after the Dutch Grand Prix. He said he had listened back to his comments, accepted responsibility and promised to improve, but offered no concrete corrective action.
Your score
Mel Gibson
Blames stage pressure, avoids naming the interpreter mockery, and offers no repair.
“There was no intended maliciousness attached, and I certainly apologize to anyone who was upset by it.”
Gibson made exaggerated hand gestures while passing an American Sign Language interpreter at Fan Expo Canada. After footage circulated and drew criticism, he described his behavior as spontaneous idiocy, denied malicious intent and apologized to people who were upset.
Your score
Also this week
Target
Withdraws the costume and acknowledges harm to Black customers, but offers no checkable prevention plan.
“We know this is especially hurtful for our Black guests, team members and partners.”
Target withdrew a children's clown costume after critics compared its design to racist minstrel caricatures. The retailer acknowledged that it should never have stocked the costume, apologized specifically to Black customers, employees and partners, and said it was reviewing how the product reached sale.
Your score
Sébastien Ogier
Owns his tone and apologises privately, but leaves the remarks and future safeguards unspecified.
“It was neither the right moment nor the right tone in which I raised my concerns about the championship.”
Sébastien Ogier publicly apologised for how he raised championship concerns with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña. He acknowledged using the wrong tone at the wrong moment and said he had already apologised privately and attended a constructive meeting.
Your score
David Umahi
Acknowledges stranded commuters’ hardship, but promises road repairs without a timetable or detailed commitments.
David Umahi apologised to commuters stranded by the deteriorating Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway and reportedly accepted responsibility for their hardship. He visited Benin and promised immediate interventions alongside lasting repairs, but the evidence provides no completion deadline or detailed repair commitments.
Your score
Unidentified newspaper
Metro names and removes the false allegation, but offers no steps to prevent repetition.
“An earlier version of this story wrongly stated that JK Rowling had been ‘engaged in Holocaust denial’.”
Metro incorrectly described JK Rowling as having engaged in Holocaust denial in an article about the forthcoming Harry Potter television series. It removed the allegation and added a correction acknowledging the error and apologising.
Your score
Australian National University
Acknowledges false publications and compensates Allen, but obscures who published them and offers no prevention commitment.
“The university unreservedly apologises to Dr Allen for all of its failings and the harm it has caused her.”
ANU publicly apologised to demographer Liz Allen over its treatment of her after she raised governance concerns, and reached a financial settlement. The university acknowledged false publications, mishandled processes and considerable harm to Allen, but described the publications without identifying who made them.
Your score
That’s the week. If someone in your own life is owed an apology, take the lesson from the top scores: name what you did, own it, and offer to make it right.
Write yours on ApologifyApology News, every Tuesday.
The week’s public apologies, scored. Free, five minutes.