How to Get Someone to Apologize Advice from therapists, religious leaders and people who suffered terrible wrongs on ways to find repentance and resolution. Credit...Hannah Buckman Jan. 7, 2021 Despite President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s plea to let our “better angels prevail” and the comedian Dave Chappelle’s “Saturday Night Live” monologue where he told Americans, “We have to forgive each other,” reconciliation and forgiveness can be a long, difficult process. I learned that the hard way when the person who hurt me most wouldn’t apologize or express any remorse. I’d always thought I was the type who could forgive anyone anything. But when the mentor I’d trusted for 15 years lied to me and refused to explain or atone, I was inconsolable.