Rapper Rick Ross has finally apolgised for song lyrics that appear to endorse date rape.
However he has again faced criticism after appearing to shift the blame for the furore surrounding his rap on Rocko’s song U.O.E.N.O after he claimed he had been ‘misinterpreted.’
The 37-year-old has been hit by yet another backlash due to the seemingly halfhearted nature of the statement he issued on Twitter.
He said: ‘I dont condone rape. Apologies for the lyric interpreted as rape.’
Hearthfelt apology? Rick Ross has finally said sorry for using a lyric that seemed to glamorise date rape
Many pointed the seeming straightforward nature of the words in question, which are as follows: ‘Put molly all in her champagne, She ain’t even know it, I took her home and I enjoyed that, She ain’t even know it.’
Ross, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts , made the move after a petition was launched demanding Reebok discontinue using the rotund rapper in their advertising due to the nature of his lyrics.
And in an apparent move to see off the criticism at the pass, he also directed a tweet toward Reebok writing, ‘Apologies to my many business partners, who would never promote violence against women.’
His antics seem to have blown up in his face, with scores of social network users speaking out to blast his apology.
Professor, author and activist Marc Lamont Hill tweeted: ‘The fact that @rickyrozay apologized clearly to @reebok after offering an “i’m sorry y’all misunderstood and got mad at me’ says everything.”‘
Just a coincidence? The tweet came after petition was launched to persuade Reebok to cut ties with him
Another called AprilLeighTree said: ‘Once again a mega-gross rapper promotes rape culture. @Reebok spokesperson & lowlife Rick Ross should be fired! #NotBuyingIt.’
And @weakforcouture added: ‘I hate rick ross. He’s an idiot who’s trying to backpeddle out of a scandal he brought upon himself.’
It is the second time he has tried to redeem himself, as when 50,000 people called for him to be sacked by Reebok the rapper spoke out to defend himself, saying rape is not something he ‘condones’.
The lyric in question features on Rocko’s song U.O.E.N.O and appears to have Ross rapping about drugging a woman with molly, which is slang for crystallised MDMA, and then having sex with her.
Rick, who is also known as Rozay, said: ‘Woman is the most precious gift known to man. And there was a misunderstanding with a lyric, a misinterpretation.
Denial: The rapper denies that he would ever condone rape and that’s not what he’s lyrics were about
‘I would never use the term rape in my records, in my lyrics. And as far as my camp, hip-hop don’t condone that, the streets don’t condone that, nobody condones that.’
‘I just want to reach out to all my queens that’s on my timeline, all the sexy ladies, the beautiful ladies that have been reaching out to me with the misunderstanding: We don’t condone rape, and I’m not with that,’ he concluded.
However it seems it’s a case of too little, too late as a petition launched at the end of last week calling for Reebok to drop him has received thousands upon thousands of signatures.
Advert: Rick stars in the latest advert for Reebok, which was launched in March
The petition was started by women’s rights group UltraViolet and in a statement from cofounder Nita Chaudhary it’s explained why the words are unacceptable.
No stranger to drama: Rick has been involved in a number of controversies over the years
It reads: ‘We are appalled that Reebok would pay a spokesperson who brags about enjoying drugging and raping a woman.
‘Reebok devotes a lot of time, energy and money to marketing to women—and now they are paying a man who is literally bragging about raping us while absurdly insisting it can’t possibly be rape if he doesn’t use the word ‘rape.’’
The controversy comes not long after the sports company’s latest advert starring Rick, real name William Leonard Roberts II, was launched.
Ross takes the lead in the advert showing him living the life of luxury, in an all-white pool side setting, complete with white Reebok trainers which get ruined when his chef accidentally cracks an egg on his shoe.
It is unclear whether Reebok will take the petition on board, however in the past stars have been dropped from campaigns following questionable behaviour.
Chris Brown famously was dropped by Wrigley in 2009 after he was arrested for assaulting his then girlfriend Rihanna.
Rick is known for founding the record label Maybach Music Group, on which he has released three albums.
He was also famously the first artist signed to Diddy’s management company, Ciroc Entertainment.
This is not the first time the rapper has been embroiled in controversy. In the past he has been arrested on gun and marijuana charges and he and his girlfriend were the targets of a drive-by shooting at the beginning of this year.
Read more: Mail Online
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