Lara Spencer’s “Apology” For Making Fun Of A 12-Year-Old Boy Is Just A Masterclass In Damage Control
Look, I know we’re all supposed to be outraged about the economy or whatever, but can we please take a moment to focus on the truly important crisis of our time? That’s right, folks: *Good Morning America* host Lara Spencer decided to clown on a 12-year-old boy for liking ballet, and then she gave us the most corporate, soulless “apology” I’ve seen since the last time a tech CEO got caught using the N-word in a Zoom call.
For the uninitiated (or anyone who has a life and doesn’t mainline morning TV), here’s the tea. Last week, Spencer was doing a segment on Prince George’s school curriculum. The kid, who is *twelve*, has a schedule that includes things like “ballet,” “poetry,” and “golf.” Spencer, a grown-ass adult woman who gets paid to read a teleprompter, decided to focus on the ballet part. She literally laughed, said “We’ll see how long that lasts,” and then cut to a segment of her co-hosts doing a fake “golf swing” while snickering. It was the kind of bullying you’d expect from a mean girl in a 2004 teen comedy, not a multi-millionaire morning show host. The message was clear: Dancing is for losers. Real men play golf. And if you’re a boy who likes the arts, you’re a punchline.
Naturally, the internet did what the internet does: it collectively lost its goddamn mind. Professional dancers, actors, and basically anyone with a pulse called her out. I’m talking Derek Hough, Misty Copeland, and a bunch of other people who are actually talented and famous for more than just being on TV. The backlash was so loud that Spencer had to crawl back to the studio, mic up, and do the “I’m sorry you were offended” shuffle.
And oh boy, was it a masterclass in non-apology. She looked directly into the camera, her face a mask of practiced contrition, and said she was “truly sorry” for her “insensitive comment.” She said she “learned a lot,” that she “loves dance,” and that she should have been “more thoughtful.” She even tagged on some bullshit about how she was going to “dedicate more time to learning” about the topic.
Spare me. This wasn’t an apology, it was a hostage video. It was a PR-approved script designed to make the story go away. The real apology would have been, “Hey, I’m a 50-year-old woman who publicly humiliated a child on national television because I think traditionally masculine hobbies are superior. I am, in fact, a giant asshole. Please stop emailing my boss.” But no. We got the corporate version.
What makes this whole thing extra rich is the hypocrisy. This is the same Lara Spencer who co-hosts a show that routinely features segments on “overcoming bullying” and “body positivity.” She literally does a segment called “Be Kind, Rewind.” But when it comes to a boy who likes something her generation deems “girly,” all that kindness goes out the window. It’s the classic “We support you… unless you’re a boy doing something we don’t understand.” It’s the same energy as a dad who says he’s “fine” with his son being gay but then gets visibly uncomfortable when the kid wants to wear a sequined jacket.
And let’s talk about the subtext here, because it’s thick enough to choke a horse. The whole “we’ll see how long that lasts” comment isn’t just about ballet. It’s a coded warning. It’s the same shit every dude who ever took an art class heard in high school. It’s the “real men” bullshit that tells boys that emotions are weak, that creativity is for sissies, and that your value is tied to how many touchdowns you score. It’s the same toxic masculinity that makes dudes afraid to cry, afraid to hug their friends, and afraid to admit they love a Taylor Swift song. And Spencer, with her perfectly highlighted hair and her “I’m just a fun mom” persona, was the spokesperson for it.
The best part? The ballet community absolutely dragged her. They didn’t just get mad, they got receipts. They pointed out that male ballet dancers are some of the most athletic, disciplined, and strong people on the planet. They literally lift women over their heads for a living. But sure, Lara, keep laughing at the kid who might grow up to be the next Mikhail Baryshnikov while you read ad copy for hemorrhoid cream.
But here’s the thing that really grinds my gears. The apology worked. Or at least, it was designed to. The news cycle moved on. Everyone’s already talking about the next outrage. Spencer will go back to her job, probably get a pay raise, and the whole thing will be forgotten by next week. The lesson? If you’re rich and famous, you can publicly mock a child, issue a fake apology, and face zero consequences. The 12-year-old Prince George will probably never see the video. But what about the millions of other kids who did? The little boys who are afraid to sign up for dance class because they’re scared some adult on TV will laugh at them? Congrats, Lara. You did that.
And honestly, the worst part is that she didn’t even commit to the bit. If you’re going to be a bully, at least own it. Don’t backtrack and pretend you “love” the thing you just mocked. It’s like a racist saying, “I have a black friend.” It’s weak. It’s pathetic. It’s exactly what I’d expect from a morning show host who thinks “hard-hitting journalism” means asking a celebrity what their skincare routine is.
So here’s my AITA verdict: Yes, Lara. You are the ass
Final Thoughts
Having covered figures across media and politics for decades, it’s clear that Lara Spencer’s career is a masterclass in navigating the treacherous line between light entertainment and public accountability. Her infamous "Flipping Flop" segment on *Good Morning America* wasn’t just a gaffe; it was a stark reminder that even seasoned anchors underestimate how quickly a throwaway joke can get buried under a national conversation about gender norms and empathy. Ultimately, her survival and return to the anchor desk prove that in modern television, the ability to apologize, adapt, and keep the morning coffee hot is a skill as vital as any teleprompter read.