Top Ten Celebrity Apologies of 2009

It was a tough year for some of our favorite famous people. Each year, a few of them take it upon themselves to remind us that even celebrities are human, too, and just as capable of making mistakes. Here are their most famous responses from 2009.

10. Michael Phelps.

"It's obviously bad judgment and it's something I'm not proud of at all. It's definitely not what I wanted, and it's clearly not what my mom wanted. This is just a stupid thing of mine that I did, and I have to live with it."

In January, a British tabloid published a photo of the Olympic swimmer smoking marijuana out of a bong. Phelps was banned from competing for three months and lost endorsement sponsorships over the incident.

9. Chris Brown.

"I'm truly, truly sorry that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better. I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person. I only can pray that you forgive me, please."

The R&B star was arrested in February following a domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna. He was charged with felony assault in March and ultimately accepted a plea bargain involving community service and five years of probation.

8. Bernie Madoff.

"I am deeply sorry and ashamed. I knew what I was doing was wrong — indeed, criminal. I left a legacy of shame. It is something I will live with for the rest of my life."

The New York financier and former Chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange was found guilty of eleven felonies, turning his wealth management business into a Ponzi scheme that one journalist labeled "the largest investment fraud in Wall Street history." The scheme swindled investors and charities out of a reported $65 billion. Madoff received the maximum sentence of 150 years in prison.