On Sunday, we discussed the trash heap that is Tony Robbins. Robbins is a “self help guru” with fans around the country and around the world. He makes millions of dollars telling people to go for it or whatever cliche is popular at the moment. He is a con man, a snake-oil salesman, a Frankenstein-looking version of Gwyneth Paltrow. Over the weekend, a video from one of Robbins’ public talks went viral for all the wrong reasons. He told #MeToo victims – survivors of rape, assault, abuse and harassment – that they should stop telling their stories because they’re only trying to make themselves famous by taking down important men. He then physically intimidated a woman who challenged him, and he told a garbage story about how he knows a very powerful man who now refuses to hire pretty women because of #MeToo, and that’s supposed to be a cautionary tale for women: don’t be pretty, don’t speak, don’t view yourselves as a victim or ever speak about it if you are abused or harassed.

The scorn for Tony Robbins fueled the internet all weekend, and many suggested that we should take a deeper look at Tony Robbins, because he sure sounded like a man with a lot of sh-t to hide. Well, now Tony Robbins is apologizing. Sort of. I mean, he clearly apologizes, you just have to get through the name-dropping of his brand:

At a recent Unleash the Power Within (UPW) event in San Jose, my comments failed to reflect the respect I have for everything Tarana Burke and the #MeToo movement has achieved. I apologize for suggesting anything other than my profound admiration for the #MeToo movement. Let me clearly say, I agree with the goals of the #MeToo movement and its founding message of “empowerment through empathy,” which makes it a beautiful force for good.

For 40 years I’ve encouraged people to grow into the men and women they dream to be. I watch in awe as more and more women all over the world find their voice and stand up and speak out. All of our growth begins with learning. My own started with a childhood marked by abuse. I am humbled that others have looked to the path I have taken in the decades since as lessons in their own journey. But sometimes, the teacher has to become the student and it is clear that I still have much to learn.

I teach that “life happens for you, not to you” and what I’ve realized is that while I’ve dedicated my life to working with victims of abuse all over the world, I need to get connected to the brave women of #MeToo.

I am committed to being part of the solution.

I am committed to helping to educate others so that we all stay true to the ideals of the #MeToo movement. I will never stop examining my own words and actions to make sure I am staying true to those ideals. That begins with this brief statement but will not end until our goals are reached.

[From Tony Robbins’ social media]

Tony Robbins: *openly mocks victims of abuse, victim-blames women for being abused*
People: “Tony Robbins is a douchebag and he should be canceled.”
Tony Robbins: “I’m so sorry, I was abused too and I can educate the rest of you how to overcome all of this if you just pay me thousands of dollars.”

That’s basically it. Grifters gonna grift and all that, but maybe don’t look to Tony Robbins to educate anyone on empathy or dealing with abusive relationships? Maybe just keep him canceled, from now to infinity?

Life coach Tony Robbins says women are using #MeToo to make themselves 'significant' — but this brave sexual abuse survivor called him out pic.twitter.com/wYxhlmc10u

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 6, 2018

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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