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slang.fyi

notes app apology

/noʊts æp əˈpɒlədʒi/

Common

A celebrity apology posted as a screenshot from the iPhone Notes app, now a meme-ified format associated with performative or insincere regret.

The Notes app part is the punchline. It implies the person could not even be bothered to type into Instagram or hire someone to write a real statement. The format is now inseparable from irony.

Real-world examples4 examples
#ExampleWhat it meansSource
01Dropped the notes app apology at 11pm on a Friday. Classic.The apology was timed to minimize attention, posted in the signature low-effort format.x, 2023
02The notes app apology was 600 words and never once said what they actually did.A long statement that avoided any specific admission of wrongdoing.x, 2024
03Give it 48 hours and we'll get the notes app apology.Predicting the formulaic response that will come after a public scandal.tiktok, 2023
04I actually believed her notes app apology and then the second video dropped.The person found the apology convincing until new information contradicted it.youtube, 2023

Use it when

  • A celebrity or influencer posts a screenshot from their Notes app as an apology.
  • Mocking the format of a celebrity apology that feels performative.
  • Predicting that someone will release a generic apology after a scandal.

Do not use it when

  • You mean any public apology regardless of format.Use “public-apology” instead.
  • You mean a formal brand or corporate statement.Use “pr-statement” instead.

Notes app apology vs PR statement

notes app apology

Notes app apology reads as personal and unpolished, posted directly by the person.

VS

pr-statement

PR statement is clearly written by a team, uses corporate language, and comes from a brand account or rep.

Origin and context

The format emerged as celebrities began posting screenshot apologies from iPhone Notes around 2018-2020. It became a meme through repetition and the recognizable white background of the app.

First seen
2018
Confidence
medium

Cite this page

Use this stable URL to reference the entry.

https://slang.fyi/notes-app-apology
Updated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0

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