I'm much older than James and the N word was offensive when I was a kid. People just used it regardless. I'd have got a walloping for it and no I'm not posh.Maybe not, but you might make other mistakes.
In his youth (he is not exactly a spring chicken) the N-Word was not offensive and he was in pain, a sibling had died not too long ago and a friend had lost his career, he was super drunk and he behaved really badly.
Quite disgraceful.
Still not worth canceling someone for the rest of their lives.
I don't think that this is true.
It's nothing to do with cancelling and everything to do with accountability. And this means avoiding excuses.