So, Pharrell did the thing that just shouldn't be a thing any more: dressing up as another race. He did it on the cover of Elle magazine wearing what looks like a Native American headdress. This immediately spawned an hashtag response online: #NotHappy (a reference to his hit song "Happy.")
Through his publicist, Pharrell responded: âI respect and honor every kind of race, background and culture. I am genuinely sorry."
Actor Jonah Hill, meanwhile, was recorded over the weekend yelling a homophobic slur at a paparazzi. Hill went on the Tonight Show last night and said this:
"This weekend I was out with some friends and there was a paparazzi guy, and he was antagonizing me and calling me names, attacking me personally and my family personally, and I was genuinely hurt by this and made angry by this," Hill said."In response, I wanted to hurt him back and I said the most hurtful word that I could think of at that moment. I didn't mean this in the sense of the word. I didn't mean it in a homophobic way."
"I think that...sorry," Hill said, needing a moment.
"I think that that doesn't matter. How you mean things doesn't matter. Words have weight and meaning. The word I chose was grotesque and no one deserves to say or hear words like that...I'm sorry and I don't deserve or expect your forgiveness, but what I ask is at home, if you're watching this and you're a young person especially, if someone says something that hurts you or angers you, use me as an example of what not to do."
The whole thing is worth watching, actually. Attention, celebrities of America (Pharrell, Macklemore, etc.)! Try not to do stupid offensive things in the first place. But if you do, take noteâthis is how you convey your humanity, apologize, and move on without coming off as a self-pitying shmuck:
