The kindest exit from an awkward moment is often an ordinary next sentence.

When something lands badly, the instinct is to address it: explain, apologise, or make a joke about it. Each of those keeps the moment in the room and asks everyone to look at it longer. Simply carrying on with something ordinary gives the other person the fastest route back to being comfortable, which is usually what they want more than an account of what just happened.

The next time a remark falls flat, try one unremarkable sentence about anything else. Save the apology for the things that actually need one, where it will carry more weight.