Names and faces

Madonna apologized Saturday for using a racial slur on Instagram to refer to her son, seeking forgiveness a day after calling those who criticized her language “haters.” On Friday night, the singer posted a picture of her 13-year-old son, Rocco, boxing and included the comment, “No one messes with Dirty Soap! Mama said knock you out!” She then added a variation of the N-word. She quickly deleted the comment when other Instagram users berated her for the use of the word, although she was initially defiant. But in a statement to The Associated Press, a contrite Madonna said, “Forgive me. I am sorry if I offended anyone with my use of the N word on Instagram. It was not meant as a racial slur. I am not a racist. There’s no way to defend the use of the word. It was all about intention,” she said. “It was used as a term of endearment toward my son who is white. I appreciate that it’s a provocative word and I apologize if it gave people the wrong impression.” Besides Rocco, Madonna has three other children: Lourdes, David and Mercy. Mercy and David are black, adopted from Malawi.

Former NBA player Dennis Rodman has checked into an undisclosed alcohol rehabilitation center to treat his longtime struggle with alcoholism, his agent said. Darren Prince declined to say which facility will treat Rodman and how long he will be there. Rodman recently returned to the United States from his latest trip to North Korea. He was criticized this month for an interview in which he implied that KennethBae, an American missionary detained in North Korea, was at fault for his imprisonment. Rodman later apologized, saying he had been drinking and was under pressure as he organized an exhibition game there. “What was potentially a historic and monumental event turned into a nightmare for everyone concerned,” Prince said. “Dennis Rodman came back from North Korea in pretty rough shape emotionally. The pressure that was put on him to be a combination ‘superhuman’ political figure and ‘fixer’ got the better of him. … He is embarrassed, saddened and remorseful for the anger and hurt his words have caused.”

Front Section, Pages 2 on 01/20/2014

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