Gina Rodriguez found herself in some hot water on Tuesday, October 15 after posting a video on Instagram that showed her using the n-word while singing along to the Fugees song “Ready or Not.” Rodriguez found herself as the top trend on Twitter as people blasted her for her use of the word.
It wasn’t the first time that Rodriguez has been called out for being racially insensitive, so the backlash was even more intense than before.
So naturally, Rodriguez attempted to apologize. Unfortunately for her, it did not go over well at all.
“I am sorry if I offended anyone by singing along to the Fugees, to a song I love that I grew up on. I love Lauryn Hill,” she wrote. “If I offended anyone I apologize.”
That apology led to even more criticism because — if we are being honest — that was a half-hearted and empty apology. So with a second round of criticism on the day coming her way, Rodriguez once again tried to apologize and this time it came in the form of a written statement.
“In song or in real life, the words that I spoke, should not have been spoken. I grew up loving the Fugees and Lauryn Hill. I thoughtlessly sang along to the lyrics of a favorite song, and even worse, I posted it,” Rodriguez wrote on Instagram. “The word I sang, carries with it a legacy of hurt and pain that I cannot even imagine. Whatever consequences I face for my actions today, none will be more hurtful than the personal remorse I feel.
“Watching my own video playing back at me, has shaken me to my core. It is humiliating that this has to be a public lesson but it is indeed a much-deserved lesson. I feel so deeply protective and responsible to the community of color but I have let this community down. I have some serious learning and growing to do and I am so deeply sorry for the pain I have caused.”
Rodriguez has turned off comments on the apology post, so we aren’t sure how the fans are reacting. However, we know Rodriguez hopes this goes better than the first apology attempt but she should still probably keep off of social media for a while.