INFLUENCER Alix Earle has apologized for her repeated use of a racial slur in 2014.
The Hot Messpodcast host addressed the troubling remarks on Monday, weeks after they resurfaced online.
In a statement shared to her Instagram Story, Earle wrote, “A couple of weeks ago, screenshots surfaced from my old ask.fm account showing me using a slur in the summer of 2014.
“I am taking accountability and want to make it clear that I was 13 years old and did not understand the deeply offensive meaning behind that word.
“That is no excuse for using that word in any context or at any age. That is absolutely not the way I speak or what I stand for.”
Earle, 23, insisted she was “deeply sorry” that her words have “hurt many,” adding they “led people to believe that I have any prejudice in my heart.”
She continued, “I promise you that could not be further from the truth.
“My platform has always focused on positivity, entertainment, and uplifting others, and will continue to do so.
“I am sincerely sorry to those I have offended.”
Earle went on to explain why she did not address the comments immediately.
“I regret how I handled this situation, allowing too many people to talk me out of saying something for too long,” she said.
“I wasn’t sure how to handle it and unfortunately the advice I was given, although well intended, was wrong.
“There is no one to blame but myself for not standing my ground and going with my gut to speak right away.”
In December 2022, a Reddit user posted screenshots of Earle using the N-word on the “Alix Earle Snark” page.
In August 2024, these screenshots resurfaced on other subreddits and platforms such as TikTok, Variety reported.
One of the subreddits they appeared on was named after the Do We Know Them? podcast hosted by Jessi Smiles and Lily Marston.
Smiles claimed Earle’s attorney later reached out to her and Marston about the matter.
Alix Earle's statement in full
Influencer Alix Earle addressed her 2014 use of a racial slur in an August 26, 2024 social media statement.
She wrote on her Instagram Story, “A couple of weeks ago, screenshots surfaced from my old ask.fm account showing me using a slur in the summer of 2014.
“I am taking accountability and want to make it clear that I was 13 years old and did not understand the deeply offensive meaning behind that word.
“That is no excuse for using that word in any context or at any age. That is absolutely not the way I speak or what I stand for.
“I am deeply sorry that my words have hurt many and have led people to believe that I have any prejudice in my heart.
“I promise you that could not be further from the truth.
“My platform has always focused on positivity, entertainment, and uplifting others, and will continue to do so.
“I am sincerely sorry to those I have offended.
“I regret how I handled this situation, allowing too many people to talk me out of saying something for too long.
“I wasn’t sure how to handle it and unfortunately the advice I was given, although well intended, was wrong.
“There is no one to blame but myself for not standing my ground and going with my gut to speak right away.
“In the absence of my addressing this, my silence allowed others to fill in the void with rumors that simply aren’t true.
“One rumor in particular is that I tried to trademark my old posts, which is absolutely ridiculous and untrue.
“Another is that a brand announced they are no longer working with me, even though we have never been in conversations with them about a partnership in any capacity.
“Regardless of what’s being said online, I wanted to come on here to address the facts and most importantly apologize.”
“Her lawyer contacted us and said that we have violated their copyright,” Smiles said in the August 12 episode of the Do We Know Them? podcast.
“People posted screenshots of [her racist posts] in our subreddit, and her lawyer said that they have a trademark to that,” she continued.
Smiles added that she and Marston have no affiliation with that subreddit, saying, “We don’t moderate it, we don’t have any access to it.”
However, in her social media statement, Earle vehemently denied the trademarking allegations.
“In the absence of my addressing this, my silence allowed others to fill in the void with rumors that simply aren’t true,” she said.
“One rumor in particular is that I tried to trademark my old posts, which is absolutely ridiculous and untrue.
“Another is that a brand announced they are no longer working with me, even though we have never been in conversations with them about a partnership in any capacity.
She finished the statement by adding, “Regardless of what’s being said online, I wanted to come on here to address the facts and most importantly apologize.”
