which is why he apologized on the way out.

it wasn't about apologizing. he didn't like the academy holding it over his head, like, we're only gonna give you this thing if you apologize. He said fuck your thing, then apologized. People will question the sincerity of his apology either way, but I would guess more so if it appeared like he was only doing it because was getting something out of it.

then for the next few months, every appearance is him giving the same rehearsed speech. Why deal with any of that if you don't have to?