Psst, Your Mic Is On: Apologies of the Week

When a hot mic is involved, it's often just a matter of time before the public apology follows. That and other mea culpas making headlines this week:

• What she really thinks: "I'm sorry for using a word I don’t usually use."—Janet Napolitano, former Homeland Security chief who is now president of the University of California. She got caught on a hot mic referring to a student protest about tuition hikes as "crap."
• Some languages not so welcome: "We sincerely apologize to any students, staff, or community members who found this activity offensive. In our school district the Pledge of Allegiance will only be recited in English as recommended by the Commissioner of Education."—Pine Bush High School in New York, after parents complained when a student recited the Pledge of Allegiance in Arabic as part of Foreign Language Week.

• Soaking the needy: "We are sorry that our intentions have been misunderstood and recognize that the method used was ill-conceived. It actually has had the opposite effect from what it was intended to do, and for this we are very sorry."—Statement out of Saint Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, after a report that the church installed sprinklers to keep the homeless out of its doorways.
• Retraction: "Mark Connolly and George Ogilvie, I'm sorry for what I wrote."—Journalist Marc Ambinder, apologizing after writing a piece in Politico Magazine about the two Secret Service agents. It turns out that initial reports suggesting they got into an embarrassing car accident at the White House were blown out of proportion.
• Sorry for being me: “There was no preparing me for this life. I was thrown into this at 12 years old. ... There’s been moments I’m really proud of and a lot of moments I look back and I’m pretty disappointed with myself for. But the things that I’ve done really don’t define who I am. I’m a kind-hearted person who loves people and, through it all, lost some of my best qualities. For that, I’m sorry."—Justin Bieber, at his Comedy Central roast.

(More apology stories.)