Deshaun Watson’s first public apology isn’t convincing fans at all
By Amy Kaplan
![BEREA, OH - JUNE 14: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns speaks during press conference after the Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 14, 2022 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) BEREA, OH - JUNE 14: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns speaks during press conference after the Cleveland Browns mandatory minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 14, 2022 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/602db7063e938bbb49efca4ca0c4ab3aec27111a59a34c43c6d68ea36a4a0640.jpg)
Deshaun Watson’s first public apology isn’t convincing fans at all.
On Friday, The Browns posted an interview with Aditi Kinkhabwala and Deshaun Watson, in an attempt to share an apology from Watson to the women who are accusing him of sexual assault.
“Look, I want to say that I’m truly sorry to all of the women that I have impacted in this situation,’’ Watson told Kinkhabwala during the Browns Countdown pregame show before the Jaguars game. “The decisions that I made in my life that put me in this position I would definitely like to have back, but I want to continue to move forward and grow and learn and show that I am a true person of character and I am going to keep pushing forward.”
Deshaun spoke with Aditi Kinkhabwala ahead of starting tonight's game in Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/9kuHxI9ULh
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 12, 2022
But it didn’t quite go over the way that the team and Watson had probably hoped it would.
Fans ripped Deshaun Watson and the Browns for apology
Aditi should have done interview like this 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/z19mpqb9AC
— M!k€ Jad••n (@sj_blocher) August 12, 2022
“I wouldn’t feel that comfortable next to him,” someone tweeted.
https://twitter.com/realjohnwalker/status/1558226197649231875?s=20&t=vTGDn6zjoJc7IBUFFAvRyw”Wait, he’s sorry? What’s he sorry for? I thought he said he didn’t do anything?” a fan asked.
“This isn’t even a real apology, who set this up? Did you think this would help, Jimmy?” someone else wrote.
“Obvious PR move and preempting the new ruling, he can point to this and say “see I have remorse”. Disgusting but not surprised,” another fan commented.
Tatis getting suspended for PED and Deshaun Watson playing football. I must be sleeping
— Josh Naylor was Robbed (@NMRBurner) August 12, 2022
As a representative for women I would like to inform Deshaun Watson that we do not accept his apology and continue to find his predatory behavior disgusting and reprehensible.
— Jeannette (@jayher17) August 12, 2022
Hey look another ambiguous word salad apology that literally means nothing from Deshaun Watson. https://t.co/K7FyMcPzCN
— LGB #DaBears (@LateGreatBears) August 12, 2022
First off, that’s a pathetic apology.
— MARCUS SMART DPOY OF THE YEAR 2022 (@petigs) August 12, 2022
Second I seem to recall Watson being “adamant and steadfast in his belief that he doesn't believe he did anything wrong.” You wouldn’t apologize if you didn’t do anything https://t.co/7WO3Veeu3v
Next. Browns continue to read the room horribly with latest Deshaun Watson decision. dark