History Main / BackhandedApology

-->'''Jin Zixun''': I'm sorry you're so fucking below me that you have be a bitch about it.

-->'''Vegeta:''' I'm sorry. Yep. ''Totally'' sorry. I just feel terrible. Yes, I'm very, very, "very" sorry... ''(capsule door shuts)'' THAT YOU'RE ALL STILL ALIVE! SUCKERS!

-->'''Kyril:''' If I have offended you, I do apologize, but I must get going. ''(gives a short, curt bow)'' Have a wonderful afternoon.

-->'''Kairi''': It must be incredibly boring to have nothing to do with your hard-earned downtime than to sneer and scoff at other people for their happiness. Are you ladies feeling that lonely and unfulfilled with your lives?\\
'''Woman''': How ''dare'' you! Do you have any idea to whom you speak so disrespectfully, you brat?\\
'''Kairi''': A gossipy old goose who seems to have some serious issues with minding her own business?\\
'''Woman''': Hmph. I'll have you know that my husband is a cabinet minister, young girl. So some respect for the family of a man who governs this great country is in order.\\
'''Kairi''': ''(shocked)'' Oh! Oh I am deeply sorry, ma'am. I apologize for my actions. I had no idea that you were so jealous because your husband is married to his job while I can do this whenever I want. ''(turns and kisses Sora)''

-->'''Mirabel:''' ''(to Isabela)'' I. Am. S-Sorry...\\
'''Isabela''': Hmph...\\
'''Mirabel''': That your life is SO great!

-->'''Shrek:''' ''(to Donkey)'' Well, if I treated you so bad, how come you came back?\\

'''Shrek''': Oh, yeah. You're right, Donkey. I forgive you -- for stabbing me in the back!

->''"So please -- before you think about hurting someone over this trifle of a film, remember: even God has a sense of humor. Just look at the Platypus. Thank you and enjoy the show. P.S. We sincerely apologize to all Platypus enthusiasts out there who are offended by that thoughtless comment about the Platypi. We at View Askew respect the noble Platypus, and it is not our intention to slight these stupid creatures in any way."''

''(cue crowd moving back, except a blissfully-smiling Karen)''

--->'''Girl in Wheelchair:''' Laura, I don't hate you because you're fat. You're fat, because I hate you. (Although that could be a genuine apology, as the girl in the wheelchair might have observed that her bullying of Laura caused Laura to binge eat, and she is horrified that she could have done that).

-->"No complete record of Ming Wang's confession now exists, all those who accompanied him having entered into a deep compact to preserve a stubborn silence. It is admitted, however, that it was of inordinate length, very explicit in its details, and that it implicated practically every courtier and official of any standing. In a final access of self-reproach the Emperor penitently admitted that he was the guilty head of a thoroughly decayed and criminal autocracy, that he weakly surrounded himself with greedy and incompetent officials, and that he had thoughtlessly permitted sycophancy, bribery and peculation to abound."
--> --pp. 39-40 of Ernest Bramah, ''Kai Lung unrolls his Mat'' (1928; repr. Penguin, 1937).

-->'''Sheridan:''' I apologize. I'm... sorry. I'm sorry we had to defend ourselves against an unwarranted attack. I'm sorry that your crew was stupid enough to fire on a station filled with a quarter million civilians, including your own people. And I'm sorry I waited as long as I did before I blew them all straight to hell! ''({{beat}})'' "[[IronicEcho As with everything else, it's the thought that counts]]."

'''Santana:''' Shut your potato hole, I'm here to apologize. ''(to Finn)'' Rachel's right, I haven't been fair to you. You're not fat. I should know, I slept with you. I mean, at some point I must have liked that you look like a taco addict who's had one too many back alley liposuctions.\\

'''Santana:''' Please stick a sock in it or ship yourself back to Scotland. I'm trying to apologize to Lumps the Clown. ''(back to Finn)'' I am sorry, Finn. I mean, really, I'm sorry that the New Directions are gonna get crushed by the Troubletones. And also sorry that you have no talent. Sorry that you sing like you're getting your prostate checked, and you dance like you've been asleep for years and someone just woke you up. Have fun riding on Rachel's coattails for the rest of your life, although, you know what, I would just watch out for her come holiday time if I were him, because if I were her, I'd stick a stent in one of those boobs and let the Finn blubber light the Hanukkah lamp for eight magical nights.

-->'''Watts''': Your logic is flawless, Henry. I apologise if my tone is one of surprise, but it reflects my feelings.

''(the customer leaves in disgust)''\\

'''Korax:''' ''([[BriefAccentImitation imitating Scotty's accent]])'' You're right. I should. ''(normal voice)'' I didn't mean to say that the ''Enterprise'' should be ''hauling'' garbage. I meant to say that it should be ''hauled away'' '''''AS garbage!'''''\\
''(Scotty decks him, starting a BarBrawl)''

-->'''Vince [=McMahon=]''': I apologize, you son of a [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch]]!

-->'''Danny Kaye''': Piggy, I'm sorry I said I knew you when you were thin. ''[{{beat}}]'' I ''never'' knew you when you were thin!

-->'''Patsy''': Say it like you mean it.\\
'''Minister''': I ''don't'' mean it!\\
'''Patsy''': ''I know that''. Say it like you ''do'' mean it.

[[folder: Web Original]]

'''Douchebag[[note]]who looks like a guy but is really a stupendously ugly fat chick[[/note]]:''' Okay. I'm sorry your kid's a brain-dead stinking blue cheese ''(smacks Peter's can of Patriot Ale out of his hand)'' fat-ass!

-->'''Lapis:''' (''reading Peridot's card'') "Sorry I interrogated you. You were just full of such useful information. That's a sincere compliment."

--->'''Bevin''': For those of you who understood what I was saying, thank you, but clearly, a tremendous number of people did not fully appreciate what it was I was communicating. I apologize for those who were hurt by the things that were said.

--> I'd like to apologize to my viewers and my staff for the failure of Current TV.

--> Yoho: "The offensive name-calling words attributed to me by the press were never spoken to my colleagues. And if they were construed that way, I apologize for their misunderstanding."

--> MY PERSONAL APOLOGY TO JEEP\\
\\
Dear Jeep,\\
'''I'm sorry.'''\\
I'm sorry my Jeep broke down before it even left the dealership.\\
I'm sorry it had 21 problems.\\
I'm sorry it had to be towed 4 times.\\
I'm sorry I wasn't more grateful for your offer of a replacement battery.\\
I'm sorry you wouldn't offer me a replacement or refund.\\
But most of all I'm sorry...\\
'''I BOUGHT A JEEP'''

-->'''Andy Levy''': I want to talk about something that happened on Tuesday night. About 8 o'clock here on the east coast R&B singer Chris Brown tweeted, "No more planking for me unless it's on a sexy lady. Lol." So I saw this tweet and I retweeted it adding, "You spelled '[[DomesticAbuse punching]]' wrong." Obviously in reference to that fact that Brown was arrested in 2009 for assaulting his then-girlfriend Music/{{Rihanna}}.\\

* {{Downplayed}} in the ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' [[AccusationFic Salt-Shot]] ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/44607043/chapters/121613383 A Price to Pay]]''. After betraying Marinette and helping his father make a [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy reality-altering Wish]], Adrien learns that said Wish [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor didn't turn out as he expected]]: his mother was brought back to life, but wants nothing more to do with him or his father. He entreats Marinette for help, despite learning that she recalls the original reality and is fully aware of his betrayal... and that her own father was sacrificed [[BalancingDeathsBooks as fuel for the Wish]], apologizing in a way that implies he thinks she's in the wrong for even ''wanting'' an apology:

* In [[https://notalwaysright.com/a-very-sorry-story/320429/ this]] ''Website/NotAlwaysRight'' story, a customer, enraged about being asked if he was interested in the loyalty program, rants that it's a scam, and when the submitter tries to say it isn't, says the only thing he wants to hear from the submitter is an apology for trying to scam him. The submitter comes up with "Trust me, sir, I am very sorry I ever started this conversation," which he accepts.

To Team Breezy I would also like to say that I’m sorry. Thank you for your thousands of tweets which taught me a lot about the creative possibilities of spelling, grammar, and syntax. Possibilities I couldn’t even imagine before last night. In particular I’d like to thank the female members of Team Breezy, who have taught me that as long as you can sing, [[DracoInLeatherPants you can beat the living hell out of a woman and other women will still love you]].\\

'''Shirou:''' Admittedly not my greatest moment. All right, you know what? [[LampshadeHanging This is perhaps devolving into something less than apologetic]].

* In June 2014, Ashton Wood raised $18,000 online so he and 300 people could destroy his car after Jeep refused to pay a full refund for the car or replace the vehicle which he claimed had suffered 21 separate mechanical problems. During a failed settlement between the manufacturer, Jeep, and Mr. Wood, one of the requests made by the car company was for the disgruntled buyer to publish an 'apology' in a national publication. However, because no one would publish the apology, he instead read it out on Creator/TheABC's ''The Checkout'':
--> MY PERSONAL APOLOGY TO JEEP
-->
--> Dear Jeep,
--> '''I'm sorry.'''
--> I'm sorry my Jeep broke down before it even left the dealership.
--> I'm sorry it had 21 problems.
--> I'm sorry it had to be towed 4 times.
--> I'm sorry I wasn't more grateful for your offer of a replacement battery.
--> I'm sorry you wouldn't offer me a replacement or refund.
--> But most of all I'm sorry...
--> '''I BOUGHT A JEEP'''

* ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'': Mei gives one to Ming during the [[spoiler:confrontation at the 4*Town concert]].

'''Mei:''' Well, sorry I'm not perfect! Sorry I'm not good enough! And sorry I'll never be like you!

** When Winston Churchill broke the same rule, his apology was simply "I called my honourable friend a liar it is true and I am sorry for it. [[LampshadeHanging Punctuate however you like.]]"

* When [[Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann]] was removed from Current in March 2012, he released a statement on Twitter which began with this:

* In July 2020 Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL) was caught by a reporter referring to Representative Alexandria Oscaio-Cortez (D-NY) as a "fucking bitch" after he started an argument with her in which he called her "disgusting" and "out of your freaking mind". Once the news broke, Yoho "apologized" to her on the house floor without apologizing for calling her a "fucking bitch". He apologized for starting with an argument with her and for any misunderstanding while denying he'd ever call a woman such a thing because [[SomeOfMyBestFriendsAreX he has a wife and two daughters]].

* The launch of ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III: Reforged'' was a complete disaster, being [[ObviousBeta a blatantly unfinished mess]] that was [[ChristmasRushed rushed to release in time for 2020's fiscal year]], with many features missing from the original ''Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos'' while [[NeverTrustATrailer lacking the cinematic cutscenes shown in its 2018 trailer]], [[GameBreakingBug Game-Breaking Bugs]] and disconnections galore, and updating the [=EULA=] to grant [[Creator/BlizzardEntertainment Blizzard]] exclusive ownership over any and all custom content for fear of another ''[[VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients DOTA]]'' scenario. [[FromBadToWorse To make matters worse]], ''Reforged'' was merged with and overwrites the original game, meaning all of the problems with ''Reforged'' retroactively affect the original game regardless of whether the user buys ''Reforged'' or not. Fans were understandably furious, and eventually Blizzard issued an official statement addressing complaints... that refused to accept responsibility and attempted to shift blame to the fans for their high expectations that Blizzard themselves set with their 2018 trailer. It went about as well as you'd think it would, with Blizzard's reputation being self-damaged further.

--> '''Jin Zixun''': I’m sorry you’re so fucking below me that you have be a bitch about it.

* In ''Fanfic/{{Couturiere}}'', [[WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug Marinette]] gets akumatized into the titular villain after Lila Rossi's lies push her too far. When she finally corners Lila and demands she own up to her lies, she instead gets a non-apology that all but push the blame of her actions on her classmates for believing her lies, and on Marinette for being hurt by them. Needless to say, Couturiere isn't amused, and proceeds to give her a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown.

* ''Fanfic/ErasedPotential'': After Nedzu repeatedly manipulates Toshinori, tricking him into revealing Izuku's status as a Recommended Student to the whole class, Izuku wants an apology. Nedzu initially pretends he didn't hear what he asked, followed by a pithy "Then I am sorry that I caused you trouble, Midoriya-kun." Aizawa immediately calls him out on this non-apology, and Nedzu affirms that he still thinks his actions were completely justified.

* In the ''Manga/LoveHina'' fic ''Fanfic/ForHisOwnSake'', after Keitaro explains why he's leaving the Hinata Inn and [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech calls out each of the girls]] on how their past behavior hurt him, Shinobu and Mutsumi are the only ones that linger long enough to apologize. Shinobu apologizes honestly, while Mutsumi instead talks more about how she's sorry how he's hurt Naru and everyone with his rejection. This {{foreshadow|ing}}s their resultant character arcs: Shinobu comes to recognize and accept how she helped drive him away by never speaking out against the abuse, while Mutsumi convinces herself that Keitaro needs her help to get back together with Naru.

* The UsefulNotes/{{British newspaper|s}} ''The Sun'' published a story "Flying saucers over British [[ChurchOfHappyology Scientology]] HQ". [[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4966623/Aliens-An-apology.html Their response]] to the resulting complaints:

-->'''Mei:''' All I wanted was to go to a consert!\\
'''Ming:''' I never went to concerts, I put my family first! I tried to be a good daughter!\\
'''Mei:''' Well, sorry I'm not perfect, sorry I'm not good enough, and sorry I'll never bee like you!

* Creator/FoxNewsChannel personality Andy Levy gave one of these to Music/ChrisBrown and his fans live on air after an argument on Website/{{Twitter}}:

* In ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', after Luvbi trash-talks the Mario brothers, Jaydes (her mother) [[OrderedApology forces her to apologize]]. So she replies. "I am sorry... that [[YeOldeButcheredeEnglishe thou art]] so hairy." (The last part said very quickly and apparently unnoticed by Jaydes, though Mario reacts.)
* In ''VideoGame/SonicLostWorld'', [[VanityIsFeminine Zeena]] gripes to Sonic that she has to reapply her nail polish because of him. Sonic says he's sorry, which Zeena [[SarcasmBlind takes at face value]] until Sonic explains that he's sorry that she "has nothing more important to do in life."
* During her ''VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift'' bad ending, after listing off everything that bores her, Terumi demands Rachel explain how "his existence" is on that list. She does apologize that "[[BoringInsult You can't help being so dull]]" in response.

--> Boss: "I'm sorry for your mum!"

* Happens in ''WebVideo/VideoGameHighSchool''. The Law is such a jerk.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4IjTUxZORE This]] video combines the trope with a [[CallingTheOldManOut well earned]] ArmorPiercingQuestion from today's youth to a previous generation.
* In ''WebVideo/JakeAndAmir'', Jake calls out Amir for giving one of these to his cousin, Micah.
-->'''Amir:''' Are you still pissed about the last time he visited?\\
'''Jake:''' You mean when he went to get a drink from the water fountain and you shoved his face into it? Yeah, he lost two of his front teeth!\\
'''Amir:''' I apologized for that!\\
'''Jake:''' You said, "Sorry you don't have a sense of humor, bitch!"

[[folder:Western Animation ]]

* From the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Mystery Dungeon:"

* In ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'', Rick is not the type to apologize. The closest you'll get from him is "I'm sorry you think you deserve an apology." Beth realizes she's not that different when ''she'' refuses to apologize to someone too, ultimately admitting "[[NotSoDifferentRemark Oh my god, I'm my father.]]"

-->'''Kyril:''' If I have offended you, I do apologize, but I must get going. ''*gives a short, curt bow*'' Have a wonderful afternoon.

-->'''Shrek:''' ''[to Donkey]'' Well, if I treated you so bad, how come you came back?\\

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Encanto}}'': When Isabela forces Mirabel to apologise to her after "ruining" the family dinner:
-->'''Mirabel:''' ''[to Isabela]'' I. Am. S-Sorry...\\
'''Isabela''': Hmph...\\
'''Mirabel''': That your life is SO great!

* ''Film/{{Zoolander}}'': Though it's possible that in Derek's case, he is [[TooDumbToLive being genuine]].
-->'''Derek:''' I'm sorry that good-looking people like us made you throw up and feel bad about yourself.\\
[...]\\
'''Mugatu:''' Oh, I'm sorry, did my pin get in the way of your ass? Do me a favor and lose five pounds immediately or get out of my building like now!

* The title character's apology in ''Film/{{Patton}}'' for slapping a soldier under his charge, which is based off something Patton did in real life.

* Creator/{{Plato}}'s ''Literature/ApologyOfSocrates'' appears to be one of these, considering that Socrates spends most of his speech lamenting how stupid everybody is. But the definition of "apology" at the time also meant "a reasoned argument in justification of something". So Socrates's "apology" was him explaining to the people of Athens his beliefs and methods. This meaning is the basis for the term "apologetics".
* In Kai Lung's story about the discovery of tea, the Emperor is advised to confess his sins in order to bring an end to a drought:
-->"No complete record of Ming Wang's confession now exists, all those who accompanied him having entered into a deep compact to preserve a stubborn silence. It is admitted, however, that it was of inordinate length, very explicit in its details, and that it implicated practically every courtier and official of any standing. In a final access of self-reproach the Emperor penitently admitted that he was the guilty head of a thoroughly decayed and criminal autocracy, that he weakly surrounded himself with greedy and incompetent officials, and that he had thoughtlessly permitted sycophancy, bribery and peculation to abound."
--> --pp. 39-40 of Ernest Bramah, ''Kai Lung unrolls his Mat'' (1928; repr. Penguin, 1937).
* After the girls of ''Literature/TheBabySittersClub'' get into a huge fight, Mary Anne writes her friends "apology" notes. While she manages one sincere apology to Claudia, the other notes fall under this trope:
-->''Dear Kristy, I'm sorry you're the biggest, bossiest know-it-all in the world, but what can I do about it? Perhaps you should consider professional help.''
* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' book ''[[Recap/WarriorCatsTheFirstBattle The First Battle]]'', Clear Sky [[FisticuffProvokingComment is infuriated enough to claw Falling Feather across the face]], shocking them both. His "apology" is basically "I'm sorry you don't understand that questioning me puts us in danger."

* In ''[[Literature/MrsPiggleWiggle Missy Piggy-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure]]'', the first stage of said Whatever Cure involves the child being cured being magically placed in a floating bubble whenever they do something incosiderate. They can get out of it if they apologize, but as Frankfort Freeforall discovers, "Veronica, I'm sorry you're such a crybaby" won't work. It just causes the bubble to swoop up even higher.

* ''Series/{{House}}'' is forced to apologize to Cuddy's mother: "I'm sorry... that we saved your life," he starts, and then steers it back to a straight apology: "...in the way that we did." Wilson gives the apology a B+.

* In ''Series/BlackBooks'' Manny has finally left Bernard's shop after one mistreatment too far. All Manny wants is an apology and Fran finally gets them in the shop together so Bernard can say sorry:
-->'''Bernard:''' Manny, I'm sorry. I am sorry I ever let you in here to rob me of my best years before leaving me a burnt-out husk!
* In ''Series/TheBoys2019'', SuperSupremacist Blue Hawk gets in hot water for using PoliceBrutality in black neighborhoods. When he's forced to make an OrderedApology, he essentially says "I'm sorry you feel that way" with it quickly devolving into a shouting match with the crowd and violence.
* ''Series/TheCloser'':
** Assistant Chief Pope has received numerous complaints about friction between Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson and other legal departments, and so has ordered her to apologize to the offended parties.
--->'''Brenda:''' I'd like to start with you, Ms. Powell. I'd like to say how sorry I am that I was unable to ignore your general level of incompetence in the wrongly obtained conviction in the case of Bill Croelick. And I'm sorry if you felt hurt and defensive about putting a man on death row for the wrong crime, and I certainly hope that that will never, ever happen again. Agent Jackson, I deeply regret that the FBI handed over two million dollars to a man on a terrorist watch list without the capacity to trace it, or managed to follow him for months without knowing his wife was having an affair with a doctor, and I hope you do much better in the future. Captain Taylor, I suppose I should apologize to you for not having been born in Los Angeles, but having seen you work up close now for several months, I can honestly say that try as I might, I can't think of any fair and reasonable system on earth where I wouldn't outrank you. There. I hope that clears everything up.
** Pope himself delivers a nice one in season 4 to a man accused of killing his wife due to past domestic abuse:
--->'''Chief Pope:''' On behalf of the entire LAPD, allow me to say how sorry I am that you lied to us so much and that you knocked your wife around to such an extent that we considered you a suspect in her murder.
* In the ''Series/BabylonFive'' episode "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS02E22TheFallOfNight The Fall of Night]]", [[TheCaptain Sheridan]] is [[OrderedApology ordered to apologize]] to the Centauri for something that was the Centauri's fault. Sheridan is shown practicing an epic backhand apology [[MirrorMonologue to a mirror]] in his quarters. It's just too bad he never got the chance to actually deliver it.
-->'''Sheridan:''' I apologize. I'm... sorry. I'm sorry we had to defend ourselves against an unwarranted attack. I'm sorry that your crew was stupid enough to fire on a station filled with a quarter million civilians, including your own people. And I'm sorry I waited as long as I did before I blew them all straight to hell! ''[{{beat}}]'' "[[IronicEcho As with everything else, it's the thought that counts]]."

* ''Series/{{Scrubs}}'':
** After Carla tries to interfere in Perry and Jordan's relationship, Turk persuades her to apologize to Jordan:
--->'''Carla:''' I didn't mean to upset you. Even though everything I said was true, and you know it.\\
'''Turk:''' Baby, that is a God-awful apology. Just God-awful.\\
'''Jordan:''' Yeah, that's 'cause she's not really sorry.
** Elliot within the first three episodes gets off on the wrong foot with Carla, J.D. makes her apologize and then she always adds "you know I'm right" or "But (excuse)". There is added dream sequences of her digging her own grave to prove the point!

'''Santana:''' Shut your potato hole, I'm here to apologize. ''[to Finn]'' Rachel's right, I haven't been fair to you. You're not fat. I should know, I slept with you. I mean, at some point I must have liked that you look like a taco addict who's had one too many back alley liposuctions.\\

'''Santana:''' Please stick a sock in it or ship yourself back to Scotland. I'm trying to apologize to Lumps the Clown. ''[back to Finn]'' I am sorry, Finn. I mean, really, I'm sorry that the New Directions are gonna get crushed by the Troubletones. And also sorry that you have no talent. Sorry that you sing like you're getting your prostate checked, and you dance like you've been asleep for years and someone just woke you up. Have fun riding on Rachel's coattails for the rest of your life, although, you know what, I would just watch out for her come holiday time if I were him, because if I were her, I'd stick a stent in one of those boobs and let the Finn blubber light the Hanukkah lamp for eight magical nights.

* ''Series/TheColbertReport'': Stephen likes to invert this by proclaiming "I accept your apology" to someone who has not, in fact, apologized in any way. Given that he's playing a satirical character, almost every apology to people he offends comes off as this.
* ''Series/SexAndTheCity'': Carrie apologizes to Big's trophy-wife for having an affair with Big, to which she reples "I'm sorry too: I'm sorry you cheated with my husband, ran around behind my back, and caused me to fall and break my tooth, requiring 27 stitches and hours of painful surgery."

* In one episode of ''Wonders of the Solar System'', Brian Cox made an offhand remark that "astrology is a load of rubbish". After the show received complaints, he made a statement which sadly was not chosen as the BBC's official response on the issue:
-->'''Brian Cox:''' I apologise to the astrology community for not making myself clear. I should have said that this new age drivel is undermining the very fabric of our civilisation.

* In ''Series/{{Frasier}}'', Niles bears some animosity towards Frasier's ex-wife Lilith after she sniggered during Maris' wedding vows. When Frasier tries to get the two to reconcile, Lilith declares that, "if he is in such need of validation, then I guess for some sense of familial harmony, I do apologize." Niles [[SincerityMode joyfully accepts]].
-->'''Frasier:''' He doesn't get that kind of validation [[AwfulWeddedLife at home,]] you see.
* A rare ''accidental'' example in ''Series/DoctorWho'', when the Doctor attempts to apologise to Barbara for kidnapping her and accusing her of trying to kill him. Because he has NoSocialSkills it comes out as self-aggrandisement and blaming her for everything and he never actually says the word "sorry". Barbara's facial expression suggests she notices this, but at the same time she sees that it's meant sincerely and he's just communicating it badly, and accepts it.
* ''Series/AllyMcBeal'': In episode 5 of season 1, during Ally's hearing, with her lawyer license being at stake, her representative colleague heatedly argues to what he calls unfair process. Interrupting, their law firm boss (present, as he says earlier in the episode, as backup) declares to be in agreement with the board on this one, cheerfully continuing to elaborate that their hothead is being constantly reminded of the need for civility and yet keeps getting these reactions to ''witch-hunts, especially this blatant.''
* In ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'', DJ and his Mom are fighting, so while at the diner he leaves a note on one of the tables saying "The big scary one spits in the food." Annoyed, Roseanne demands he apologize.
-->'''DJ:''' I'm sorry my mom spits in your food.\\
''[the customer leaves in disgust]''\\
'''Roseanne:''' Ha! Joke's on you, DJ; I really do spit in the food!
* ''Series/ThisHourHas22Minutes'''s Apology to America, in which Anthony St. George walks around Washington D.C. and passive-aggressively apologies on behalf of Canada for such things as calling UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush a moron, burning down TheWhiteHouse during the UsefulNotes/WarOf1812, various terrible Canadian celebrities and music inflicted on the U.S. over the decades, and, finally, for [[ShapedLikeItself "apologizing for things in a passive-aggressive way which is really a thinly-veiled criticism]], because we've seen what you do to countries you get upset with."
* In ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'', Creator/MelissaMcCarthy's impersonation of Sean Spicer opens with one of these:
-->''"I'd like to begin today by apologizing on behalf of you to me for how you have treated me these last two weeks, and that apology is not accepted."''
* Because sarcasm and sadism are the ''modus operandi'' of ''Series/CutthroatKitchen'', Alton's request that a losing cheftestant return his or her remaining cash to the briefcase often reeks of this.
* Played humorously in ''Series/That70sShow''. Kelso tells the guys that he got into some trouble with Pam Macey, mainly him unable to... well, let's just say in his case, [[TheLoinsSleepTonight the South didn't rise again]]. Eric and Hyde proceed to mock him about it, which Fez chatises them for. Then we get this gem from him:
-->'''Fez:''' Kelso, I just want you to know that I feel bad for you and that I am sorry... '''[[SuddenlyShouting YOU ARE NOT A MAN!!!]]'''

'''Korax:''' ''[[[BriefAccentImitation imitating Scotty's accent]]]'' You're right. I should. ''[normal voice]'' I didn't mean to say that the ''Enterprise'' should be ''hauling'' garbage. I meant to say that it should be ''hauled away'' '''''AS garbage!'''''\\
''[Scotty decks him, starting a BarBrawl]''
* ''Series/TheFlash2014'': In the first SeasonFinale, Cisco reveals to Thawne that he has memories of Thawne killing him in an alternate timeline. Thawne says he's sorry...not for killing him (he's confident he had a good reason) but for him being able to remember it.

* In ''Series/PeakyBlinders'', every apology made by Creator/TomHardy's character Alfie Solomons is either utterly flippant, sarcastic, or a transparent means of manipulating someone. The closest he gets to apparent sincerity is his apology to Arthur in season 3 for previously trying to frame the guy for murder, and even that is a blatant act of self-preservation, which he goes on to undermine anyway by [[{{Troll}} trolling]] Arthur for several minutes afterward and keep mocking him. As a rule, a "good" apology probably doesn't end with the other person so irate they're inches away from smashing you over the head with an ashtray...
* In ''Series/TheGoodPlace'', Brent does this to Tahani after he write a book, where the main characters love interest is a racist, sexist caricature of her. After a few "attempts", he gives up and rants about how there was nothing wrong with his portrayal of Tahani, and accuses the rest of the gang of bullying him and infringing on his rights.
* ''Series/ICarly2021'': In the third episode "iFauxpologize", an image of Carly spitting out a rotten meatball goes viral and, at Harper's insistence, Carly milks the popularity of the meme for all its worth. Spencer gets angry at her for doing so since his latest sculpture was in the background of the photo and many viewers thought her cringy expression was aimed at the sculpture. When Spencer demands an apology from Carly for the meme, her response is "I'm sorry if your feelings were hurt. I didn't realize you were so sensitive." Spencer deems it a "Fauxpology", hence the episode title. She does apologize for real at the end of the episode.
* In the ''Series/MurdochMysteries'' episode "Porcelein Lady", Detective Watts combines this with BackhandedCompliment when Constable Higgins makes a deduction:
-->'''Watts''': Your logic is flawless, Henry. I apologise if my tone is one of surprise, but it reflects my feelings.

-->'''Patsy''': Say it like you mean it.
-->'''Minister''': I ''don't'' mean it!
-->'''Patsy''': ''I know that''. Say it like you ''do'' mean it.

-->'''Miz:''' Okay...I'm sorry that you're a [[CatchPhrase really]] [[VerbalTic REALLY]] big walrus!

* Any and all apologies which are: "sorry I offended you" or have a "but" justifier in the middle of it!

* The phrase "sorry not sorry" is about as minimalist as you can get for this concept, as it basically expresses that you're sorry that you aren't.
** Even more blunt is, "I regret nothing."

* There is a rule in the British Parliament that forbids personal insults. UsefulNotes/BenjaminDisraeli supposedly said "Half the Cabinet[[note]]Committee of high-ranking government ministers[[/note]] are asses." He was ordered to apologize and he said "Mr. Speaker, I withdraw. Half the Cabinet are '''not''' asses," in a tone of voice that implied that the other half ''are'' asses.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'':

* After the Liberal Democrats broke their campaign pledge not to raise tuition fees, UsefulNotes/NickClegg made a public apology (which quickly became a StupidStatementDanceMix) in which he said "We shouldn't have made promises we weren't absolutely sure we could deliver". Many people pointed out [[SellOut Clegg]] wasn't apologising for ''breaking'' the pledge, but for making it in the first place.