It happens to the best of us that as we get older, we care less about what others say and think of us. But of course, most of us try to keep that in check so as not to be the cranky old person at the restaurant sending back their meal because "the mash looked lumpy".
But for 84-year-old Quincy Jones, he didn't feel the need to hold himself back from saying a string of relatively absurd comments in recent interviews. The retired music producer gave two very – err, opinionated – interviews in the last month with GQ and Vulture that left several high-profile individuals offended, and the rest of us asking, "did he really say that?"
Jones alleged that he once dated Ivanka Trump, slung mud on Taylor Swift's songwriting abilities, and called Paul McCartney "the worst bass player I ever heard". He also said that Michael Jackson was a song thief and that Prince once tried to run the King of Pop over with a limousine.
The legendary producer received a lot of backlash for his controversial outbursts, but it's only now that he's addressed the whole bemusing situation. Jones apologised with a lengthy statement on Twitter, writing that it was all "wordvomit" and that he was sorry for "bad-mouthing" the individuals.
"A couple weekends ago, my six daughters (who I'm beyond proud of ) took me aside to do a surprise 'family intervention' because of some silly things I've said in two recent interviews," he wrote. "I have LEARNED MY LESSON. Let me tell you, I'm so grateful for my daughters because they aren't scared to stand up to their daddy. I am an imperfect human & I'm not afraid to say it. And I'm sorry & I'm not afraid to say it."
Jones is the father of 7 children in total, one of whom is Rashida Jones of Parks and Recreation fame. He is the most Grammy-nominated artist in history, and worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Celene Dion and Aretha Franklin back in the day. He went on to say that he recently stopped drinking, and explained that "certain details about specific events" came "flooding back all at once", thought they might not depict the "full picture".
"Even at 85, it's apparent that "wordvomit" & bad-mouthing is inexcusable," he wrote, before lamenting that his controversial comments detracted from the more important points he wanted to make in those interviews.
"One of the hardest things about this situation is that, this bad-mouthing has contradicted the very real messages I tried to relay about racism, inequality, homophobia, poverty ...you name it. And of course I don't want that. I have already reached out to my friends privately, but when you live a public life, you have a responsibility to be an example, & since I do lead a public life, I wanted to make an apology."
The soon-to-be 85-year-old (sounds like he's already counting it) ended his Twitter message by apologising to those he "offended".
"I'm sorry to anyone whom my words offended & I'm especially sorry to my friends who are still here with me & to those who aren't. There friends are like blood family to me. To my dear family & Friends ... thank you for your grace. Thank you for calling me out when I've clearly made a mistake...many mistakes.
"Even though sometimes it's difficult to receive criticism or discipline (especially publicly), I want you to know I hear you. I hear ALL of you...& I thank you. So, I encourage you all to please grow with me & keep on keepin' on. Love, an 85 year old bow-legged man who is still learning from his mistakes."
Good on him for fronting up and taking responsibility.
