Oct 9, 2026 · 1h 9m
Cory Asbury turns a public conflict into a case for humility
The Wrong (and Right) Way to Apologize
The conversation shows how direct apologies and changed behavior can repair relationships when defensiveness would deepen the damage.
- 1Direct communication made reconciliation possible after Cory Asbury recognized that a joke had hurt Forrest Frank.
- 2Apologies matter most when they name actual harm without excuses, image management, or invented admissions.
- 3Marriage, parenting, and public criticism all test whether humility becomes changed behavior rather than good intentions.
Don't miss
Cory Asbury recounts realizing that his joke had hurt Forrest Frank and choosing to apologize instead of defending a post that was performing well.
The brief
Cory Asbury discusses marriage, parenting five children, and creative work with Jefferson Fisher, focusing on how gentleness and intentional communication reshape conflict.
The conversation moves from family repair to public criticism, including Asbury’s defense of “Reckless Love” and the challenge of becoming less controlled by other people’s opinions.
A sarcastic joke involving Forrest Frank escalated after Asbury posted a song about his vasectomy; the turning point came when he recognized the joke had caused real hurt.
Frank’s direct, honest response created room for an apology and reconciliation, eventually leading to the collaborative song “Misunderstood” and a renewed friendship.
Asbury argues that humility means owning what actually happened, accepting loss, extending self-grace, and choosing changed behavior over explanations that protect the ego.