Camila Cabello apologises for past racist language and Tumblr posts
19 December 2019, 13:22
Camila Cabello issued an apology this week for unearthed Tumblr posts that used language the singer now calls "embarrassing".
Camila Cabello has issued an apology for racist language she used in the past. On Wednesday (18 December), the 22-year-old singer took to Instagram Stories to express "regret" and embarrassment over the language she previously used, following a popular Twitter thread that appeared to show posts and memes from her old Tumblr account. The Tumblr account has since been removed.
READ MORE: Normani opens up about how racist abuse from Camila Cabello fans affected her
Camila explained that she was "uneducated and ignorant" at the time and vowed to "do better". She also said that she had since learned the "history" behind her words "and the pain it carries".
In a single Instagram Stories text post, Camila apologised for her past words calling them 'embarrassing'.
"When I was younger, I used language that I'm deeply ashamed of and will regret forever. I was uneducated and ignorant and once I became aware of the history and the weight and the true meaning behind this horrible and hurtful language, I was deeply embarrassed I ever used it. I apologized then and I apologize again now. I would never intentionally hurt anyone and I regret it from the bottom of my heart. As much as I wish I could, I can't go back in time and change things I said in the past. But once you know better, you do better and that's all I can do.
I'm 22 now, I'm an adult and I've grown and learned and am conscious and aware of the history and the pain it carries in a way I wasn't before. Those mistakes don't represent the person I am or a person I've ever been. I only stand and have ever stood for inclusivity, and my heart has never, even then, had any ounce of hate or divisiveness. The truth is I was embarrassingly ignorant and unaware. I use my platform to speak out about injustice and inequality and I'll continue doing that. I can't say enough how deeply sorry and ashamed I feel and I apologise again from the bottom off my heart."
People online weighed in on Camila's apology and the responses have been divided.
"We know you’ve changed and we know your heart so thanks for acknowledging and apologizing," wrote one supportive fan.
"Stopped reading as soon as I saw “when I was younger”. Why don’t you start off by apologizing to the people you hurt. We don’t care how old you were when you used that foul language," Tweeted another person.
Back in August, Shawn Mendes addressed his own "offensive" tweets,partially blaming them on friends he had at the time but saying: "I apologise for everything.”