Totally legit. It can just be a fun (or not so fun if it's your mother doing it to you) way to NOT take the blame for something you're not actually sorry for while sounding to other people like you totally feel bad. "I'm sorry that you were offended by me smashing your face with a lunch tray. I took it upon myself to fix your terrible manners in a way that was maybe a little too aggressive." Even tho he totally deserved it IMHO.