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Cee-Lo Green Faces Backlash After Misguided Critique of "Salacious" Female Rappers
Cee-Lo Green is under fire after a controversial interview with Far Out Magazine.
Cee-Lo Green has sparked some backlash online following a recent interview. The Grammy-winning vocalist recently spoke with the United Kingdom's Far Out Magazine about the modern music industry.
In particular, Green commented on the lyrics and image of women in rap like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, and Megan thee Stallion.
"Attention is also a drug and competition is around," he said. "Cardi B and Megan thee Stallion, they are all more or less doing similar salacious gesturing to kinda get into position. I get it, the independent woman and being in control, the divine femininity and sexual expression. I get it all...it comes at what cost?”
Green attempted to make the point that artists like Nicki and Cardi have responsibilities as role models.
"You have the 'Heads of State,' like Nicki Minaj," he said, "or someone who is up there in accolade: success, visibility, a platform to influence. Nicki could be effective in so many other constructive ways, but it feels desperate."
Readers were quick to point out Cee-Lo's lengthy history of problematic actions and opinions. Back in 2014, he apologized after a cringe-inducing string of tweets about sexual assault. In October 2013, he pleaded not guilty to felony charges of furnishing a controled substance after he was accused of sexual battery by a woman in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles District Attorney's office declined to file a charge of rape of an intoxicated person due to insufficient evidence.
\u201cLook at Cee-Lo, deciding to join Jermaine Dupri in his sad little Lonely Misogynist Tent.\n\nHave fun, I guess.\u201d— A Shady Dame From Seville (@A Shady Dame From Seville) 1597079446
None— Wahala If You Hear Me \ud83d\udde3 (@Wahala If You Hear Me \ud83d\udde3) 1597077903
On Wednesday morning, Cee-Lo released a statement attempting to walk back his comments. Read the full statement below.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding with a quote taken from an interview I did a few days ago," he posted on Instagram. "I'm an advocate of artistic freedom and expression as well as a fan of Nicki, Cardi, & [Megan]. I know most of them personally and consider Cardi & Offset family. Therefore, I would never disrespect them by any means...I wholeheartedly apologize to each of them for the inconvenience they have been caused due to a snippet of my interview being used as a headline, and in turn creating controversy and disconnect between me and these ladies as well as their fans."
