When will these rappers learn? Every few months, a rapper comes out and makes a statement that is clearly homophobic. He or she then tries to defend what they said by claiming that what they meant to say wasn’t really homophobic. When that doesn’t work, they resort to issuing a half-hearted apology that’s about as genuine as a three-dollar bill. And, by the time they finally realize that they’re in the wrong, it’s too late. GLAAD has already put out a statement denouncing their comments, and the incident in question has been chalked up as a loss for them.
Yet, rappers continue to keep making homophobic statements. Most recently, Azealia Banks took a homophobic shot at blogger Perez Hilton during a heated Twitter beef. Perez sided with Banks’ fellow female MC Angel Haze during a war of words between the two rappers. So, Banks responded by sending Perez a tweet that reeked of homophobia. “lol,” she wrote to Perez, “what a messy f*ggot you are.”
Banks quickly tried to clarify herself by saying, “A faggot is not a homosexual male. A faggot is any male who acts like a female. There’s a BIG difference.” But, the damage was already done. GLAAD issued a statement, the Twitter backlash came almost immediately, and Banks was forced to apologize.
Banks obviously isn’t the only rapper who has had this problem, though. Plenty of other rappers have struggled with it, too. Just check out this list of 10 Rappers Who Have Gotten Into Trouble For Making Homophobic Statements. As we said at the top, when will these rappers learn?
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The Rapper: 50 Cent
What He Said: In 2004, Fif talked to Playboy and revealed that he doesn’t like when gay people are around him. “I ain’t into f*ggots,” he said. “I don’t like gay people around me, because I’m not comfortable with what their thoughts are. I’m not prejudiced. I just don’t go with gay people and kick it. We don’t have that much in common. I’d rather hang out with a straight dude.” -
The Rapper: Ja Rule
What He Said: In an interview with Complex in September 2007, Ja talked about how he didn’t want his kids to see homosexual couples on TV. “We need to go step to MTV and Viacom,” he said. “Let’s talk about all these f*cking shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can’t watch this sh*t. Dating shows that’s showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Let’s talk about sh*t like that! If that’s not fucking up America, I don’t know what is.” -
The Rapper: Lil Scrappy
What He Said: Although he was trying to show support for Frank Ocean, Scrappy wound up saying something really offensive during an interview with TMZ in July 2012. “To me, [Frank Ocean] is cool,” he said. “The music is what really matters. I’m glad that he came out…so all the real women that love to mess with real men, straight men, we can keep the AIDS situation down, you feel me?” TMZ host Harvey Levin then asked him if he was implying that all gay men have AIDS. “No,” he said. “But, it’s a doorway. Scientifically. Not from my mouth, this is scientifically.” -
The Rapper: T.I.
What He Said: During an interview with VIBE in late 2011, Tip talked about a controversial Tracy Morgan joke. “The funniest joke I ever heard Tracy say during a stand-up was, ‘C’mon, man, I think gay people are too sensitive. If you can take a dick, you can take a joke,'” he said. “That shit was funny to me. And, it’s kind of true…They’re like, ‘If you have an opinion against us, we’re gonna shut you down.’…That’s not American. If you’re gay, you should have the right to be gay in peace, and if you’re against it, you should have the right to be against it in peace.” -
The Rapper: Beanie Sigel
What He Said: In a July 2011 interview with XXL, the Philly rapper admitted that, while he doesn’t knock anyone for being gay, he doesn’t want gay people around him. “You gay, go ahead, do you,” he said. “I just don’t particularly prefer what you preference is. Just stay far away from me, cuz. Keep that sh*t all the way in the closet around me. I couldn’t have a gay stylist and all that…I just got that phobia. I don’t like to be around that. For any people who look into it any other way, go into the Bible and look up the story.” -
The Rapper: Tyler, the Creator
What He Said: After getting criticized for using the word “f*ggot” often in his rhymes, Tyler tried to explain his use of it to NME in April 2011. But, he ended up doing more damage to his reputation. “I’m not homophobic,” he explained. “I just think f*ggot hits and hurts people. It hits. And, gay just means stupid. I don’t know, we don’t think about it, we’re just kids. We don’t think about that shit. But, I don’t hate gay people. I don’t want anyone to think I’m homophobic. [His friend walks into the room] But, he’s a f*cking f*ggot!” -
The Rapper: Game
What He Said: In February 2012, some people on Twitter started using the hashtag #FagSwag and the Compton MC joined in. And, before long, Perez Hilton got wind of it and asked Game to stop. But, Game refused and even directed a few #FagSwag tweets in Perez’s direction. “It’s just comedy champ,” Game wrote. “Stand up for what you believe in. Trust me…I’m definitely not standin in ya way lol…I would say I feel you but i can’t cuz that’s that #FagSwag.” -
The Rapper: Eminem
What He Said: What didn’t he say? On his first few albums, Slim Shady routinely dropped the “other” F-bomb and caught hell from GLAAD early and often as a result of it. Example: “My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/That’ll stab you in the head whether you’re a fag or les,” he rapped on “Criminal” from 2000’s The Marshall Mathers LP. “Or the homosex, hermaph, or a trans-a-vest/Pants or dress, hate fags? The answer’s ‘yes!'” -
The Rapper: Erick Sermon
What He Said: During a February 2012 interview with Vlad TV, the EPMD rapper said that he doesn’t think there are any gay rappers. His reasoning? Being a rapper (or a pro athlete) and being homosexual don’t mix. “No,” he said when asked if thought there are any gay rappers. “It’s the same when you talk about sports players, too. We don’t know if that’s going to ever happen because that’s like a curse to be in sports and to be gay and be in hip-hop and be gay. You can’t be on a basketball team, a football team, and be homo, and be rapping like, ‘Yo, yo.’ N*ggas will kill you.” -
The Rapper: Tyga
What He Said: After MediaTakeOut ran a negative piece about Chris Brown in February 2012, the Young Money MC took to Twitter to ask a question and stirred up plenty of controversy in the process. “who runs mediatakeout,” he wrote. “F*ggotts [sic], trannys, or both??? I’ll wait…” He waited—and received nothing but negative backlash from fans. Let that be a lesson to all of the rappers out there. Please learn from it.