What Matt Taylor should have said
I’m here to say that I’m sorry.
Sorry for being the lead scientist in charge as the Rosetta mission reached its goal.
Sorry for having the temerity to think that a one-of-a-kind item of clothing made by a talented friend (who, by the way, just happens to be female) was suitable to celebrate this auspicious day.
Sorry that a scientist turned journalist is less interested in humanity landing a probe on a comet after a journey time of 10 years, 8 months and 13 days and a project which can trace its origins back to the questions raised by the bypass of Halley’s Comet in 1986 than in what I wore.
Sorry that the time and effort that thousands of talented men and women put in to making this moment happen has been overshadowed by someone complaining about a piece of cloth.
Sorry that rather celebrate what we have achieved here someone felt the need destroy the jubilation surrounding this historic achievement by focusing on something so insignificant.
For all of that I apologise.
Thank you.
Or:
“I apologise for thinking that my audience comprised adults who were more interested in the message than the garb of the messenger”
[I am taking it for granted that children *would* be more interested in the Rosetta mission than the shirt]
Quite. You should never apologise to these vile bullies. He should have stood firm and told them where to get off.
[…] offers some advice on apologising to Matt Taylor, while Woman on a Raft takes a different view… And on the […]