Related Clues:

• Humbly took the blame
• Acknowledged a mistake
• Admitted a humiliating goof
• Had to admit a goof-up
• Owned up to a mistake
• Fell down face-first
• Got beaten by mug -- was humiliated
• Was humiliated in café?
• Humbly accepted blame
• Was taken down quite a few notches
• Groveled, informally