Sample Apology Letter: Fill & Download for Free

Send letters to companies complaining about their product.I had to do this once as a 6th grade project, and it actually works with other products besides food. We basically picked a company we had an issue with, and sent them a letter detailing a complaint. I believe my letter was sent to a cheese company complaining about some cheese that had gone bad before the expiration date.A week or so later they sent back an apology letter with a voucher to repurchase the product at no cost. Other students in the class got coupons to repurchase products at discounted prices.Not exactly ethical, but it works.

There is a website full of sample apology leterrs, since at least part of the idea is to make the other person feel better, it is possible you will notice how to do that reading the pre-prepared lettersapology letter site - Google Search

I have been wanting to write this answer long time ago. Especially with the consistent release of scandals/problems this year (2020–2021) from k-pop idols and companies.Disclaimer: I do not mean to disrespect or harm any idol or fan. I am writing this answer based on my perspective— which can change and develop over time. LONG ANSWER AHEAD.(A photo of ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo’s handwritten apology letter regarding Itaewon outing) [1]Another renowned aspect that fans always demand when an idol say, act, or represent something/someone that is harmful, controversial, or problematic is an apology.You will find a lot of times k-pop fans trending on social media for a certain idol to apologize, or even mass emailing the company to issue an apology. Then get bashed or praised for it after publishing it.What I want to discuss is how us as k-pop fans are very oblivious about behind the scene process, not the fact that many of us do not work in a company or do not know what policies and contracts can have— there are limitless legal/illegal scenarios happening under the table.Recently I was reading a reddit thread discussion, about how idols/companies apologies became ridiculous—Almost every time an idol does something wrong, and they post handwritten "apology letters", or the company does it on their behalf.It's always "we are so very deeply sorry for the trouble and heartache he/she/I has caused". They apologize for offending people, not for what they did.[2]Which brings me to the main discussion is: (A) when an idol can apologize vs company apologize? And (B) when should an apology be valid or not?If we draw a scenario where a k-pop idol did something very problematic, the company takes action based on the situation— and this is what I noticed:The company releases an apology when an idol does a mistake.The company releases an apology when their staff does a mistake (that the idol represented; like a piece in a set, or clothes styled).The company let the idol apologize (Hand written letter or personal verbal public statement).The company let the idol apologize with a scripted written/verbal letter written by the company itself.No apology issued.Before I start writing about the examples/reasons/personal opinions behind each number— I want to write about what is the importance/issue of those public apologies:The Apology DilemmaAt the beginning, let's clarify two things about apologies: First, we are biologically predisposed to find reasons (or excuses) to postpone or stop saying we're sorry. Apologizing sounds awkward and vulnerable. There is a loss of power or face involved. Second, companies have a strong tendency to evaluate the situation through a legal lensI personally feel like apologies issued is based on the fandom demographic (aka psychological contract) and money. How money loss can play a role? This is when you have investors’ money at risk. Stocks can be lost when a company reputation falls down- famous case was YG especially after “Burning Sun” and “B.I Drug Scandal”How ‘Burning Sun scandal’ pulled down YG stock pricesYG Entertainment's Stock Plunges Following iKON's Drug-Fueled ScandalYG Entertainment’s Stock Prices Plummet After Yang Hyun Suk Faces Allegations Of Prostitution MediationShares of YG Entertainment hit hard by Seungri scandalDiving into the points now—The company releases an apology when an idol does a mistake.What most fans do not know is that there is usually a PR team behind all of this to set the public apology letter either through idol’s name or the company’s name. What is a PR team?Public relations people working for a company may handle consumer relations, or the relationship between parts of the company such as the managers and employees, or different branch offices.[3]That is the many cases behind apologies to be honest, they are paid for it because they are good at it. Therefore what the company does is that they issue a public apology on the company’s behalf to do better with their idols.Example?Sowon controversy[4][5]BTS misogynistic lyrics (before 2016)[6]The company releases an apology when their staff does a mistake (that the idol represented; like a piece in a set, or clothes styled).The instance here is on the behalf of the company too, but this time the face of the controversy/problem is the idol, but the company takes responsibility of issue because it was staff/employee’s fault. PR teams is involved in the apology issued and there are sometimes changes like editing, cutting, removing the scene/part depending on the situation.Example?Jim Jones Tape AgustD[7]JYP- TWICE Cloth STM MV plagiarism[8]& art piece from M&M [9]Lisa Black Pink Ganesha Statue in HLYT MV (No Official Statement or Apology only edit)[10]Jennie Nurse Scene in LSG MV [11]The company let the idol apologize (Hand written letter or personal verbal public statement).This part can either be a hand written letter, social media written like twitter- or verbally like YouTube video or VLive. As much as your idol means their sincere words or they don't the PR teams are most times helping them.Example?Sunmi apology on twitter for mocking Indian dance[12]Han Pre-debut rap handwritten apology[13]The company let the idol apologize with a scripted written/verbal letter written by the company itself.This is were the idol is forced or urged to do an apology based on the public response on the situation—Example?Tzuyu and the taiwan flag[14] (Even though they allegedly said they didn’t force her, I still don’t 100% believe it)[15]Jungkook because of false dating rumor[16]MONSTA X having dinner with Wonho.[17]4 Of The Strangest Things K-Pop Idols Have Apologized ForNo apology issued.Yes this is a still option solution that a lot of companies goes by till this day. A company can forbid their employee (your idol) to release a public apology. Just like the scenarios of the previous apologies, companies can forbid depending on the contract and both PR team’s advise depending on how much loses or who is in the best interest for this. Again, with the help of the PR team, the idol themselves can decide not to apologize too.Example?Red Velvet's Wendy 'mimicking' African-American people[18][19]Chen for racist comment about Blackface joke[20]NCT in many situations that I lost count of [21]At the end of this all? There are etiquette to issuing an apology from an organizational company & the employer aka idol—Like to Who, What, Where and How.[22]However, with apology or no apology, we should ask a critical question: Is the company or idol willing to commit to change? In my opinion, if idols/companies can’t or don’t want to do things differently in the future, the case for making an apology is weak. But they are humans— we all are bound to do mistakes even as we grow old.Still waiting for Rose’s solo~ Will update soon.~Hope it magnified 🔮Footnotes[1] ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo Wrote an Apology Letter Regarding Itaewon Outing[2] Idol/company apologies are BS.[3] Five Things Everyone Should Know About Public Relations[4] Sowon: K-pop star apologises over 'Nazi mannequin' image[5] K-Pop Star Sowon’s Management Apologizes for Her Nazi Mannequin Photos[6] Big Hit Entertainment apologizes for BTS’ misogynistic lyrics (full translation)[7] Big Hit Entertainment Apologizes for Suga’s Sample of Cult Leader Jim Jones[8] JYP Ent. Issues Official Apology For Copying Blackpink's Customized Hanbok Style In Twice Chaeyoung & Dahyun "Switch to Me" Video + Netizen Reactions[9] JYP Responds To Claims That TWICE's "MORE & MORE" Background Set Prop Was Plagiarized[10] How You Like That Ganesh Controversy: YG Entertainment sneakingly removes the sculpture from BLACKPINK video[11] BLACKPINK's “Lovesick Girls” MV Will Be Edited After Nurse Backlash[12] K-Pop singer Sunmi apologized to Indians; but where was the mistake[13] Stray Kids’ Han shares handwritten apology for controversial pre-debut rap[14] Singer’s Apology for Waving Taiwan Flag Stirs Backlash of Its Own (Published 2016)[15] K-pop agency says did not force Taiwan star to apologize over flag[16] BTS Jungkook’s Apology To Fans Is Breaking Their Hearts - Bias Wrecker - KPOP News[17] Starship Entertainment Issues Apology After Comments Made At MONSTA X Fan Sign Event Garner Attention[18] International fans react to Red Velvet's Wendy 'mimicking' black girls[19] K-pop band member gets flak for 'racist' imitation[20] K-pop Idols And Blackface: It's Not Okay! - The Daily Vox[21] NCT is racist and I've had enough of it now.[22] The Organizational Apology