On October 15, 2009, Richard and Mayumi Heene executed an elaborate hoax in which they falsely reported to state authorities and local media that their 6-year-old son had been carried away in a giant balloon. The Colorado-based couple had even constructed and launched an actual balloon for the purposes of advancing the hoax and generating publicity for a potential reality television show. The Heenes were eventually exposed for their ruse (dubbed the “balloon boy hoax”) and, following their arrest, pleaded guilty to charges of attempting to influence a public servant (Richard Heene) and of false reporting to authorities (Mayumi Heene). Before the judge pronounced sentence, Richard Heene apologized in open court for his actions and specifically to “all the rescue workers” and community members whom he and his wife had duped into undertaking a futile search-and-rescue effort.
Key Apologia Strategies:
Mortification
Video
Transcript
“But I do want to reiterate I’m very, very sorry. And I want to apologize to all the rescue workers out there and the people that got involved in the community. That’s it.”
Sources
‘Balloon boy’ parents sentenced for hoax. (2009, December 23). CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/23/colorado.balloon.boy.sentencing/index.html
Tedford, D. (2009, December 23). Colorado parents sentenced for ‘balloon boy’ hoax. NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121829161
