Avengers: Age of Oops

This week, two of the stars of the Avengers, Chris Evans (Captain America) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), made some disparaging, sexist remarks about the character of Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johansson). They rightly received some negative pushback, and both apologized.

Well, one of them apologized, anyway.

“Yesterday we were asked about the rumors that Black Widow wanted to be in a relationship with both Hawkeye and Captain America,” Evans said in a statement provided to EW. “We answered in a very juvenile and offensive way that rightfully angered some fans. I regret it and sincerely apologize.”

“I am sorry that this tasteless joke about a fictional character offended anyone,” Renner also said in a statement provided to EW. “It was not meant to be serious in any way. Just poking fun during an exhausting and tedious press tour.”

Notice anything about the two remarks? One is an apology, the other is a passive-aggressive deflection. One is an actual apology, the other is not.

For a good article on what makes a good apology, check out So You've Been Publicly Wrong: Anatomy of a Good Apology.