[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Jamie89

I do think people's views can change, but the things he said weren't just general comments against issues such as gay marriage that he may have changed his stance on, or signs of immaturity, they were really hateful comments, extreme in my view, and saying things like 'burn' and 'die'... and that apology, it smacks of PR to me. It's so clever, the way it's worded and structured. And it's actually made me more angry reading it tbh. I mean I could be wrong obviously, I don't know this person, but that's how I feel looking at it, and the underlying message will be that it's OK to say the kinds of things he said as long as someone writes you a good apology note afterwards...?
Like I said I do think people can change, but I also think that when it's people in the public eye, there should be consequences for stuff like this. It's not even so much about punishing him, but sending a message to the people that look up to him, so they see that there are consequences that can effect their lives and careers (and obviously just that it's wrong etc), that can't be solved as quickly and easily as he seems to be trying to do.

...I do understand what you're saying about the apology, Jamie...but then if he didn't make it either, so he's fairly damned if he does and damned if he doesn't but doing it was the right thing obviously..it's not the words though..they mean nothing, it's how he is now and his mind-set now and his actions now and do they in any way connect to the four years ago person or are completely changed..?..that's hat I don't know and that's what he'll now have a lifetime of trying to 'prove', I guess....'hate' can be said but it's not always meant and not always felt, just bad judgement of moments in his life etc...I do agree that it's a good thing for people to look at things like this and consequences of words on social sites etc...