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The on-air TV apology on her TV show Headline moments ago by Kuli Roberts after her hate-filled column about coloured women, had viewers seeing
Kuli Roberts saying ''I'm really, really, I'm sorry. I'm not a rascist. I'm all about nation building. Sometimes I think I'm funny when I'm actually not. I really would like to apologize to everybody. I'm really sincerely sorry.''
But how does
Kuli Roberts really feel? And what is she saying but didn't say in her apology in words? Here is
Kuli Roberts' body language during her on-air mea culpa.
Kuli Roberts started her apology with her hands firmly clasped together. It doesn't necessarily denote or indicate stress but coupled with her verbal delivery - a person apologizing and basically asking for forgiveness or some kind of redemption - it can indicate that Kuli was under pressure. This is something she has to do and wants to do correctly. She doesn't want the message to be misconstrued.
Kuli Roberts then opens her hands and puts them on top of each other. This is an open gesture, an overture. She's trying to make amends. With her hands in this position, she starts to move her arms up and down, as if there's a weight in her hands that she's lifting. She's doing two things here. Firstly she's figuratively trying to lift a weight off of her by apologizing. Secondly she wants to add weight and emphasis to what she's saying. She's trying to ''underline'' what she's saying by having her body mimicking her words. Interestingly enough she's doing this as she's also repeating the words ''really, really''.
Also notice the change in her eye brows, an apologetic, serious look.
Kuli Roberts makes a very important and surprising gesture next - one you rarely see in public, rarely see from public figures and one that's even more scarce on television: She raises both hands up, palms stretched out towards the TV audience and keeps them up. Where do you think the normal everyday ''waving hi'' comes from? It's from this. Kuli is showing that she has no weapons, she's not attacking. Non-verbally it means she wants to back off. She's saying ''I don't want to fight anymore'',''Look I'm defenseless'', ''Please stop'', and ''No harm please and no harm intended''.
Kuli Roberts then turn her hands palms up, still outstretched. It symbolizes giving or receiving - in this case giving. This non-verbal gesture aims to underscore her words. She's giving an apology. She's also opening things up, she wants to ''bring'' understanding. She's saying ''I'm giving it to you. I'm leaving what I'm saying with you [to decide whether to forgive me or not].'' It fits perfectly with her trying to explain herself while she's apologizing. It's another very open non-verbal gesture.
The open hands on top of each other again. Also, raised eyebrows which also indicate emphasis and adds force behind her words. She's putting the force of her whole being behind her words. Interestingly, if you listen to Kuli Roberts speak, she's rambling.
She's talking much faster than usual. It could be construed as being insincere, but in this case I would say Kuli Roberts is probably just really anxious and somewhat stressed. She's never had to deal with something like this before and has never been the centre of so much (negative) attention. It's natural behaviour when you have to talk about things you don't really want to. It's not pleasant circumstances and she wants to move past it. Obviously - literally - as quickly as possible.
A second of silence right at the end. Kuli Roberts just stands and looks the camera - and the TV audience right in the eye - hands folded into each other. Television doesn't like silence. Kuli Roberts' serious look - almost expressionless and emotionless - coupled with the silence and then a break of black screen, serves to underscore the seriousness of it all. She is serious about what she said; the atmosphere is serious; the moment almost sanctified as far as television as a medium goes.
ALSO READ: Kuli Roberts apologizes on-air for her offensive hate-filled views on coloured women: ''I'm really sincerely sorry.''
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