Alix Earle has had a tough month. A few weeks ago, the University of Miami came under fire after someone with a good memory dug it up some disturbing posts from a decade ago.
Fans of the TikToker, who has 7 million plus followers, demanded to know why she used the N-word on her old account on ASKfm, a dating site.
On Monday, the New Jersey native finally broke his silence — digitally.
Earle did not deny that she was the one who used the racial slur via an Instagram Stories and took full responsibility.
“[I] want to make it clear that I was 13 years old and did not understand the deeply offensive meaning behind that word,” the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model wrote. “There is no excuse for using that word in any context or at any age. It is absolutely not how I speak or what I stand for.”
The local influencer added that words can hurt, leading others to believe she is racist, which she is not.
“My platform has always focused on positivity, entertainment and uplifting others, and will continue to do so,” wrote the “Hot Mess” podcast host. “I am sincerely sorry for those I have offended.”
Earle ended the long message by coming clean and owning up.
“There is no one to blame but myself for not standing up and going with my gut to speak up straight away. In the absence of me addressing this, my silence allowed others to fill the void with rumors that are simply not true .”