Public apologies are the new porn and bullying people into providing them is a real addiction for some.

These depressed people use "consequences" as a brief hit of superiority, allowing them to escape the reality of their own failed lives.

...and as quickly as it picks them up, it is gone again, and they then need to search for that next dose of "justice".

Complexity, self-reflection, nuance, are all distractions from what is an emotional addiction.

And like any addiction, you cannot satiate it by giving it more of what it craves. Apologies attract more of them, and they go back to hit the apologizer for more "consequences", like trying to get the last little hit, even if they can see there's nothing left.

Don't engage these people. They are worthless.