Daniel Seavey of pop group Why Don’t We apologized Sunday for using a word once used to describe people with mental disabilities.
“I wanted to take the time to apologize to everyone I’ve hurt,” the 21-year-old singer wrote in a message he shared on Twitter. “I noticed that I have said an extremely offensive slur and I should have taken the time to educate myself on why it’s not okay for me to say it.
“I deeply apologize to every single person I hurt with what I said.”
Seavey came under fire for using “retarded,” a term now considered offensive. (The U.S. Social Security Administration only replaced “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” in 2013.)
“7 years ago this word was looked at very differently by the world and sadly I was part of that,” Seavey wrote. “I meant absolutely no harm to anyone. I am deeply sorry for saying the r slur.
“I’ve grown and changed as an individual since then.”
Seavey thanked fans for holding him accountable. “I promise to better myself,” he wrote. “You’ll never hear it from me again and I can 100% promise you that!!”
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Many fans are calling on Seavey’s fellow Why Don’t We member Corbyn Besson to apologize publicly for past social media comments described as racist, homophobic and sexist.
Besson reportedly DMed one fan to apologize and said: “I hope you believe me when I say I have been educated and I am not at all the same person I was at that time. I’ve made mistakes.
“I will continue to learn and preach kindness and equality because I fully grasp what exactly that means and why it’s so important.”