Let it be a lesson learned that once something is posted online, even if you delete it later, it has a forever home on the internet and could certainly resurface when you least expect it.
Country music superstar Blake Shelton found that out recently when screenshots of some tweets he posted years ago went viral over the weekend.
Screengrabs of the tweets written in 2009 to 2011 include The Voice coach saying that he hoped “the d**khead in the next room would either shut up or learn some English so I would at least know what he’s planning to bomb!!” And, “Standing in line at a coffee shop in LA talking with the man in front of me. He orders a skinny caramel latte. I couldn’t tell he was gay!!!” He also asked, "Question for my gay followers... Are skittles y'all's favorite candy?"
The tweets, which have since been deleted, started quite a firestorm on the social media site with many deeming them as “racist” and “homophobic.” There was also a more recent tweet dug up from June where Shelton responded to someone by calling that person “a little slow.” That tweet is still active on his account.
On Wednesday, Aug. 17, Shelton issued a statement saying that he meant for his tweets to be funny, not "hateful" and apologized to those who were offended by them.
“Everyone knows comedy has been a major part of my career and it’s always been out there for anyone to see. That said anyone that knows me also knows I have no tolerance for hate of any kind or form,” the 40-year-old told his 17.8 million Twitter followers. “Can my humor at times be inappropriate? Yes. Hateful? Never. That said I deeply apologize to anyone who may have been offended.”