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Donald Sterling - It's not easy to say "I'm sorry," especially when the whole world is watching. The public apology is often a last resort for scandal-ridden celebs, and pack a powerful punch. Donald Sterling became the most hated man in America after a tape of him making vile racist comments leaked. His mealy-mouthed apology for the remarks (though he claims he does not know if the tape is "legitimate") didn't do much to help. The furthest Sterling would go is to apologize for "comments attributed to him" and add that they are "not reflective of his views, beliefs or feelings."   (Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)

2 / 11

Columbus Short - As if he didn't have enough problems, former Scandal star Columbus Short stepped into yet another pile of you-know-what when he made a series of "bizarre" statements on Tom Joyner's radio show. The actor quickly apologized for referring to women as insecure and using the N-word on the nationally syndicated show. Short made sure to clarify he was "not high, not drunk or otherwise under the influence" during the show.   (Photos from Left: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for Ermenegildo Zegna, Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

3 / 11

Gabourey Sidibe - The American Horror Story: Coven star had to issue a mea culpa after she insulted the transgender community by using the term "tranny" repeatedly on The Arsenio Hall Show, and making light of transgender violence. Sidibe said she "didn't realize it was a slur" and apologized for her "poor choice of words."(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

4 / 11

Brian Williams - After accidently leaving Arsenio Hall's name off a list of notable late night hosts in a tribute to Jimmy Fallon, the NBC Nightly News host quicky corrected his error of omission by apologizing to Hall on the air. Hall seemed moved by the sincere apology, and all was forgiven. At least that's one late night feud that was avoided.(Photos from Left: Mireya Acierto/Getty Images, Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

5 / 11

Dennis Rodman - The former basketball star's "diplomatic" relations with North Korea have rubbed plenty of people the wrong way, but none moreso than the family of Kenneth Bae, a Korean American who was inexplicably detained in the rogue nation. Rodman implied that Bae, a tour operator, must have done something to deserve the harsh treatment, but dialed back his comments days later after getting backlash. "I had been drinking," Rodman offered as explanation for his bizarre comments.  (Photo: Kyodo News/AP Photo)

Photo By AP Photo/Kyodo News

6 / 11

Steve Martin - Nobody was laughing when the legendary comedian made a racist crack on Twitter. "Is this how you spell lasonia?" Martin's tweet read. "Depends on whether you are in an Italian restaurant or an African American neighborhood." Martin deleted the tweet and apologized shortly after, saying he was "deeply embarassed" by the joke.(Photo: Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

7 / 11

Cissy Houston - These days, the Houstons seem to rival the Jacksons in terms of inter-familial beef, but we give Whitney Houston's mother credit for trying to diffuse the tension between the family and Whitney's daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. After several family members, including Cissy herself, voiced their disapproval of Brown's relationship with now-husband Nick Gordon, Cissy penned an open letter of apology to her granddaughter. "I'm supposed to worry about you," her letter said. Sadly, it didn't work.(Photo: NBC)

Photo By Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC NewsWire

8 / 11

Marlo Hampton - The Real Housewives of Atlanta star had to apologize in 2012 for using the f-word (f*****) on the air, during a fight with co-star Sheree Whitfield. Realizing she crossed the line, Miss Manners took to her blog to offer "the fullest and most heartfelt apology for my recent use of an anti-gay slur." She continued, "when I used this word, I was not mindful of the demeaning connotation that this has in the gay community." (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Imagesfor Universal)

9 / 11

Sherri Shepherd - The View co-host put her foot in it when she seemed to tell a fellow talk show host that she believed homosexuality was a sin. Shepherd later apologized, saying her comments were "misconstrued."(Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

10 / 11

The Onion - Didn't anyone tell the writers at this humorous pubilcation that making fun of kids is no joke? The Onion took the funny business a step too far when they posted an insulting tweet about actress Quvenzhanè Wallis, calling the 10-year-old a "c***." The fake news publication apologized hours later. (Photos from left: Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images, Courtesy of The Onion)

11 / 11

A$AP Rocky - The rapper's awkward moment on stage with basketball player Jason Collins may have been completely forgotten thanks to Miley Cyrus' antics, but a picture spoke a thousand words. In a screen grab of the moment, Rocky's body language looked stiff and uncomfortable, as were his words. The rapper later apologized for Collins and fans, saying he is not homophobic but couldn't figure out why MTV had him "standing next to his n**** when they are talking about gay people." With an apology like that, who needs insults? (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV)