I don't think I'm doing that at all. I am assuming that there is some portion of the critics who will act in this way, and that its not wise to try and cater to their outrage.
I didn't hear the comment, but my thoughts are that if I had I would have probably though "hmm, well that's a pretty s***** thing to say". Then I'd hope someone explained to him that it's not really acceptable, and I would never think about it again. That is recognizing the criticism. This hasn't been a pervasive issue for him, so why make a mountain out of a molehill (if this is in fact a presser for him to formally apologize, which we don't know yet).