‘The Voice’ coach Blake Shelton apologizes over offensive tweet-gate

There’s a classic rule out there of “think before you tweet,” but there should be another one: “Go back and check out your timeline from years ago every now and then.” After all, somebody’s going to eventually just to dig up some dirt on you.

Typically, we see this happen in our profession all the time for “Big Brother” houseguests: They’re getting instant fame and tend to forget before entering the house that they should make sure that they haven’t said anything regrettable on Twitter. For Blake Shelton, he may need to check back here and there (or hire someone else to) just because. His humor is sometimes intended to straddle the line, but in light of some purported comments he made on his account, he issued an apology earlier today (read at the bottom of this article).

There are some tweets that this may be in reference two from many years ago, ones in which Blake made jokes that were deemed by some as homophobic or misogynistic. There’s no real sense in repeating them here, and for Blake, he’s probably better off with just a blanket-statement apology than highlighting each individual. The apology covers everything that he said, and if he means it, there’s nothing else to do but move on. Even if his intent was humor, it’s 2016 and humor’s changed. The comments read differently now; it’s the same sort of thing happens when you go back and watch comedy movies from 10-15 years ago in reference today. Some of it would appall modern audiences, and you gotta be aware of that.

Blake’s apology comes before a preview for “The Voice” featuring Shelton airs after the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics on Sunday night. By the time the season proper premieres next month, this’ll all probably be old news.

Now, on a lighter note, you can head over here to watch a behind-the-scenes look at the “Voice” season 11 trailer! Also, sign up here to get further TV updates via our official CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: NBC.)