Columbus Short’s Apology To Tom Joyner

Columbus Short vs Tom Joyner

“I was not high, drunk or otherwise under the influence. I was simply exhausted.”

Less than a week after Columbus Short left many suspecting dude was on something when he called Tom Joyner “a n!gg*r” over the radio airwaves, the ‘Scandal’ star — and estranged husband — denies he was lit up on anything. In his recently released public apology to Tom Joyner and Co., Columbus Short seems to ramble on in defense to the very serious allegations against him.

Check it:

“TJMS, My sincerest apologies for the confusion over my appearance on your show last Friday morning. I am a long time supporter and admirer of The Tom Joyner Morning Show and I was looking forward to an opportunity to speak with you and your audience. Unfortunately, the early morning (approximately 5:45AM Pacific Time) following a late-night event had me at what some describe, less than my best.

To clarify a few of my statements:
1. I rarely use the “n” word and I could not have picked a worse time to do so. I deeply apologize for directing it towards you.

2. Regarding my statements about women being insecure, I am a strong believer and supporter of women and I am always amazed by all that our better halves accomplish. I come from a family of strong black women and I would never discredit or minimize their success. I have the deepest respect for women, their strength and innate beauty. To suggest anything else was never my intent. I simply wanted to emphasize that women have no reason to feel that way and my song, “Gave Ya”, is meant to convey just that.

3. Lastly, just to clarify, I was not high, drunk or otherwise under the influence. I was simply exhausted. After a long day, the early call threw off my schedule.
This was no excuse – you and those who support me deserved better. Please accept my deepest apologies for any misunderstandings for that morning call. It would be an honor to appear on the TJMS in the future to set things right with your audience.”

Read a full transcript of Columbus’ previous TJMS interview:

  • TOM JOYNER: Good morning!
  • COLUMBUS SHORT: Good morning sir. How you doing, man?
  • SYBIL WILKES: How are YOU doing?
  • Tom: How you doin?
  • Columbus: I couldn’t be better, man, I’m blessed.
  • Tom: Okay, so last night did you have your viewing and listening party?
  • Columbus: Uh, Uh, absolutely I did, sir.
  • Tom: How did it go?
  • Columbus: (Laughs) No other than it’s supposed to go. Fantastic, sir.
  • Tom: You got shot at the end of the show, and I’m thinking ‘Wow. ‘
  • Sybil: Or did he?
  • Tom: Or did he?
  • (Silence)
  • Sybil: No, that’s a question. That’s a question for you.
  • Columbus: Can I keep it 1,000 with y’all? I don’t know either. (Laughs)
  • Tom: OK, because I’m thinking, I’m thinking all right. They shot a lot of endings to reveal that Papa Pope was the mastermind of killing all these people.
  • Columbus: But you know [inaudible]. But you know when you stop racking your brain, you’ll realize it was only one ending. It was the one ending that was already written. Like Shonda had this whole show written from the top to bottom. [inaudible] She has me written top to bottom.
  • Tom: So how long ago did you know you were going to get shot?
  • Columbus: The day I got shot. But I’m lying because I didn’t get shot, nigga, man, I mean, people.
  • Tom Joyner: Oh, I didn’t mean to upset you, Columbus, I’m sorry.
  • Sybil: It looked like you were going to, so that’s the problem. I get that. So when you got the script that day, but how long ago was that? When you all got the script and you started filming the last episode. Was that within the last month?
  • Columbus: It was in the last month and what happened was is the producers came to me at the table read and said ‘You gotta work tomorrow and said ‘This is what you got to shoot’ and I was like ‘What?’ But you know what? It’s a beautiful thing. That’s what makes a great actor from a good actor. That’s the deciphering, the deciphering line.
  • When you get with people like Joe Morton and Jeff Perry and Kate, Kate, Kate Burton and Kerry Washington and Katie Lowes, they know that we can throw something on you today and tomorrow you can change your whole idea of who you thought you were on the show. And they’ll still show up and still deliver. It’s an incredible thing to be a part of.
  • Tom: I played your song earlier. It’s a nice song.
  • Columbus: Thank you, I appreciate that.
  • Tom: Did you always plan to release a song? Was that in the plan?
  • Columbus: No, that wasn’t in the plan.
  • Tom: When were you originally going to release this song?
  • Columbus: When it was ready.
  • Tom: And when was that?
  • Columbus: Right now.
  • J.ANTHONY BROWN: You just don’t want people talking to you?
  • Columbus: Hey, Hey, Hey, listen, I’m going to keep it 1,000 with you guys.
  • J.Anthony Brown: That’s 2,000 ‘cause you did a 1,000 before so now we’re 2,000.
  • Columbus: 1,000 covers a lot of gamut. You deposit $1,000 in a bank account, you’re good. No, but really, keeping it completely honest with you guys, I wasn’t even working on my album when we were shooting this. And I started working on it during this process. It happened to speak to the time that I am in my life. Everything that I’m doing in my album and my single. My single is about women who I believe need to feel confident in themselves. To be like ‘Look, this is what God gave you. You want a man, how about you just be confident in what God gave you.’ Stop trying to put on all that makeup. Stop trying to put on all that eyelashes and hair –
  • Sybil: So does that mean the women that you’re dealing with are not very confident and that you needed to put this out to send them a message?
  • Columbus: How about every woman is not really confident. How about I’m not all the way really confident. When you know who you are, confidence is a humbling thing to, to, grasp.
  • J. Anthony Brown: How about you just don’t do interviews?
  • Tom: How does your wife feel about the song?
  • Columbus: Uh, I don’t care. How about I don’t care.
  • J. Anthony Brown: I think I said it best. If you don’t do interviews…. Well, God Bless you, man.
  • Tom: All right, Columbus. I hope you have a lot of success. And I hope to see you next season on Scandal. Thanks a lot.
  • J. Anthony Brown: And keep it 1,000.

24 COMMENTS

  1. Not only did he use offensive language, but he wasn’t giving coherent answers to the questions. He was rambling about sht that had nothing to do with the questions, at hand, it was weird.

    He must not know how lucky he is to be a black male on a top show in hollywood and earning millions a year. I’m sure there are many young black guys who are HUNGRY and would jump at the opportunity to take his spot.

    • I agree.
      He actually may have been better off just saying ‘I have a drinking or drug problem.’ Hollywood seems more forgiving to those who go through that than those who are just star fkn crazy.

  2. Yeah this was bad…but the TJMS does ask stupid questions often…their horrible on air! SO I can see how he’s get irritated but he should remain professional at all times.

  3. Does he want to be a great actor or a statistic? Oftentimes, success is a curse for us as blackmen, Why? Having money and power without being on the block is hard. Columbus is living his dream, but can’t control his emotions. But, the woman-abusing ish is a bridge too far. Shonda is showing much patience for this cat. More than she did for Isiah Washington, but, that speaks for itself.

    • The Isaiah situation was out of her hands. He said those gay slurs…and they run hollywood. He got black balled after that.

      • A lot of folks don’t know that Isaiah was set up. He called Patrick Dempsey a faggot, not T.R. Knight, but someone started the rumor that he called T.R. Knight a faggot in order to out T.R. Knight.

  4. When it is better to use being under the influence as an excuse, you know that you are a loser, a goner and it is OVA!!

  5. Wow, this guy is really reaching. I have an eerie feeling he will end up dead by his own hand one day. Something about him is dangerous and unbalanced…especially after learning about how he threatened to kill his own wife.

  6. Columbus if you dont fix your life you are going to spend the rest of it apologising for this and that and that is not a good look for anyone.

  7. A successful black man is always gonna be a target. Thats just life. The funny thing is though the shadier you are, the quieter things are kept, if you not down with the cause (hollywood cause if you know what i mean) Then you are just a walking target. Wonder who he have pissed off?

  8. Shonda writes roles that portray black men in a hreat like Hollywood will never like that so they will try to destroy the men that play the roles. Hollywood is very devisive and don’t want black men on tv unless they are bufoon comics that often dress in drag, drug dealers, rappers, baby daddy, or gay. Look what they did to Dave Chappelle. Trust me all actors act crazy and have bad days but as long as they are playing a role they are protected.

    • True.. Image is very important to them.. Black man with a bad image gets put into the minds of the mindless so they expect that of us even though they dont know most of real black people

  9. Just another entertainment industry need-to-grow with too much money and ego and too few brains imploding. Nothing new here, unfortunately. He’s out of control. For him to call a man of Tom Joyner’s age and stature a n*gga tells me all I need to know about Columbus. YOU, are the n*gga Columbus and it shows: your attitude, your behavior, and your sorry excuses. He’s been running around laying dem paws on folks and just generally being an ass for a while now. It’s just who he is. And I heard that interview with TJMS. I believe he was on something. Either way, drugs just really highlight who you are anyway. So, whatever. I think he needs a time out.

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