Hannah Brown shares a new apology video for saying the n-word

Hannah Brown offered a lengthier and more heartfelt apology for saying the N-word in an Instagram video posted Saturday.

The 25-year-old former Bachelorette star had been criticized for posting a previous apology video that some found flippant.

She originally angered fans and critics after saying the word while singing along to DaBaby’s song Rockstar as part of a TikTok post.

Her newest apology came as protestors across the country demonstrated in response to the death of George Floyd, who was killed in Minneapolis when a police officer suffocated him by kneeling on his neck for nearly nine minutes. 

Hannah filmed the close-up video in front of a curtain while wearing a white T-shirt and a pink corduroy Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap.

Though she initially denied having said the n-word, or having said it consciously, Hannah owned up to the mistake.

‘I attempted to talk, sing a popular TikTok dance and recited the N-word, and it was a part of the song,’ she said. 

She also explained her initial defensiveness when she denied having said the word. 

‘Initially I didn’t even know it was happening and I know it is wrong to say the N-word in a song, and I couldn’t imagine I had used it so I immediately denied it.’

Brown continued with a plan to improve herself.

‘To be honest I didn’t know a lot, I don’t want to be ignorant anymore,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to be an ignorant white girl who uses the N-word, but I also don’t want to be someone who goes onto a platform intoxicated and engages in their platform that way.’

Though some of Hannah’s fans came to her defense after she said the N-word, she urged them not to.

‘If you want to support me, do not defend me. What I did, what I said was indefensible,’ she continued.

‘I don’t need anybody to defend me for what I did because what I said, what I did was wrong. But I’m hoping that what I did was wrong but what I didn’t know even before is the worst part of it, and it’s the ignorance. I’m no longer ignorant and I’m no longer going to be part of the problem.’

Hannah capped off her 18-minute video with a pledge to do better in the future.

‘I will be a part of the solution, and you will see that. From the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry. I’m sorry to everyone I hurt and disappointed. I promise to continue doing better, I promise,’ she said.

She also posted resources to Instagram for her fans to learn more about anti-racism activism. 

Prior to her final apology video, a source told Us Weekly that the N-word ‘is not and never has been part of Hannah’s vocabulary,’ suggesting that she unintentionally said it while repeating the song lyrics. 

‘She did not intentionally say the N-word, but she understands that she was completely in the wrong and also understands why people are upset with her,’ they continued. ‘She sees this as a major lesson and is truly sorry.’

Hannah was previously criticized by Rachel Lindsay, the only black Bachelorette, for initially using the slur and then posting a written apology that she found lackluster.

‘When Hannah and I talked she wanted to know what my thought was as to what she should do. She said: “I wanna ask you.” And she was very remorseful. She was very upset. She was embarrassed,’ Rachel told Nick Viall on The Viall Files.

According to her, Hannah planned to do an Instagram Live apology, before bringing Rachel on to have a conversation with their fans.

But despite multiple phone calls, hours went by and the video chat never materialized, and instead, Hannah posted a short written apology.

Rachel explained that ‘the reason it disappointed me so much that Hannah decided to give a statement is because, quote, her words: “A statement would be insincere.” Hannah said that. It felt icky to give a statement. And I believed her when she said it.’ 

Bekah Martinez, who competed on Arie Luyendyk Jr.’s season of The Bachelor, was one of Brown’s fiercest detractors. 

‘You can’t say the N-word just because black people say it. Black people reclaimed the use of a word that was used for centuries to oppress and dehumanize them,’ she explained, though she didn’t mention Hannah by name at all.

She went on to explain that use of the word outside of the black community holds different weight, power and historical racism.  

‘It’s a word that holds so much historical weight that the black community is still healing from and parts of the white community are still weaponizing for dehumanization, particularly in the south,’ Martinez continued. 

Hannah’s ex Tyler Cameron took a different approach and hoped the controversy could teach her a valuable lesson.

He urged Hannah’s fans and detractors not to drag her but to ‘elevate’ and ‘lift [her] up.’