One of the vital maligned tropes of the social media age is the notorious apology video. Whether or not or not it’s blackface, exhibiting a lifeless physique to youngsters, posting racist tweets, a conference gone mistaken, or texting minors, there have been loads of apology movies posted within the final decade of YouTube’s recognition.
The formulation is just about the identical throughout the board. The first step: YouTuber/influencer is caught doing one thing harmful or exploitative or discriminatory or racist or in poor style or shady or manipulative. Step two: Mentioned YouTuber/influencer goes silent for wherever from just a few days to a couple weeks whereas the hype blows over. Step three: YouTube/influencer makes a clumsy, overly-long video sometimes explaining away their actions and commenting on the state of the world or “cancel tradition,” whereas half-heartedly apologizing for his or her alleged wrongdoings. Step 4: YouTuber/influencer takes a step away from their platform indefinitely to be able to additional dodge accountability or any aftershocks which will emerge.
Influencers have been unwittingly taking part in a sport of one-upping one another for the worst apology video, and issues got here to a head final week with Colleen Ballinger. Ballinger—additionally recognized by her character Miranda Sings—was accused of exploiting and grooming minors by way of group chat all through her profession, with a number of of the accusers being members of stated group chat. In what will be the worst apology the web has ever seen, Ballinger took to her YouTube channel with a ukulele to clarify away and deny the allegations in a video that has been mocked throughout the online since its publication on June 28. However Ballinger was not the primary “worst” apology video—there was a protracted street paved by the pioneers of YouTube.
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