Shape editor's mea culpa for LeAnn Rimes bikini cover

When the editor of a magazine apologizes to the mag's readers for putting you on the cover, you know your career is in big, big trouble.

And that's what country singer/actress LeAnn Rimes is probably realizing right about now.

According to TooFab, Valerie Latona, editor of Shape, sent out an email to subscribers this week that read:

"You are all in good company... as you all agree Shape has made a terrible mistake in putting LeAnn Rimes on the cover," the editor began.

Readers were aghast and reacted immediately when the mag put Rimes (wearing a sexy red bikini), who has admitted to cheating on husband Dean Sheremet with married Eddie Cibrian) on the cover with the self-serving headline: 'LeAnn Rimes: How Working Out Saved Me.'

"Please know that our putting her on the cover was not meant to put a husband-stealer on a pedestal-but to show (through her story) how we all are human," Latona wrote. "And this woman in particular found strength in exercise in what she said was her most difficult personal moment."

"But it did not come across that way... And for that I'm terribly sorry. I hope that we can do better the next time for those of you that will give us another chance."

The mea culpa email was signed "Humbly, Valerie."

What do you think LeAnn Rimes should do to repair her damaged rep and tarnished image? Is staying in shape with a few crunches enough?