Shortly after the article was published, a social media outcry led to the story being pulled from the website and Hines being placed on suspension. Although Daily Beast issued an apology, the harm had already been done.
Related | International Olympic Committee Condemns Homophobic Grindr Article
Now seven months later, Hines is off suspension and has broken his silence. In an apology released via The Daily Beast, Hines stated:
"Sexuality is an area that people should talk, read and write about--but private individuals' sex lives are only legitimate topics when they're addressed with their consent or contribute to the public good. The story about athletes using dating apps in the Olympic village did not ask consent and did not advance the public good. The article intruded into the lives of people who had a right to be left alone. For some readers it brought up old, ugly LGBTQ stereotypes. And I didn't accurately represent myself during the reporting of the piece. These were all profound failures, and I'm sorry for them."
Related | Olympics of Sex: Did Your Country Win the Gold on Grindr?
The sincerity of his apology is left in question. Is this something he's actually taken time to understand in his seven-month suspension or just a convenient conclusion he came to in order to go back to work? Regardless, the harm was done seven months ago and cannot be undone.
