Reebok drops Rick Ross after controversial rape related lyrics.
NME reports Rick Ross has lost his Reebok sponsorship. This comes after a controversy surrounding Ross’ lyrics to new song “UOENO.” In the song Ross raps, “Put Molly all up in her champagne, she ain’t even know it, I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it,” a verse that certainly seems like he is insinuating date-rape. After the song dropped women’s rights groups demanded the song stop being played on the radio and for Ross to issue an apology. Last week he did release an apology but it was kind of half-hearted. Ross had said, “”it was a misunderstanding with a lyric, a misinterpretation where the term rape wasn’t used. I would never use the word rape in my records.”
Since he made the statement Reebok has dropped Ross’ sponsorship and it seems like the lack of apology was the tipping point. Representatives from Reebok said, “While we do not believe that Rick Ross condones sexual assault, we are very disappointed he has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue or an appropriate level of remorse. At this time, it is in everyone’s best interest for Reebok to end its partnership with Mr Ross.”
Pitchfork reports since he has been dropped Rick Ross made a longer and more formal apology. It reads:
Before I am an artist, I am a father, a son, and a brother to some of the most cherished women in the world. So for me to suggest in any way that harm and violation be brought to a woman is one of my biggest mistakes and regrets. As an artist, one of the most liberating things is being able to paint pictures with my words. But with that comes a great responsibility. And most recently, my choice of words was not only offensive, it does not reflect my true heart. And for this, I apologize. To every woman that has felt the sting of abuse, I apologize. I recognize that as an artist I have a voice and with that, the power of influence. To the young men who listen to my music, please know that using a substance to rob a woman of her right to make a choice is not only a crime, it’s wrong and I do not encourage it. To my fans, I also apologize if I have disappointed you. I can only hope that this sparks a healthy dialogue and that I can contribute to it.
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