Odd Future’s frontman, Tyler, The Creator, has again found himself the topic of public criticism after firing a slew of hateful, violent remarks into an applauding audience while onstage during his Australian Tour. Although no stranger to sharp criticism for violent language within his music, the rapper was unaware at the time of the show that the individual toward whom he was directing his remarks was in the audience and happened to catch his words on video.
Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat
Since first receiving attention a few years ago, Tyler’s group has received consistent criticism from ultra-conservative politicians and progressive feminist organizations alike for writing lyrics that promote misogyny and violence against women. Most notably, a Feminist group called Collective Shout has been lobbying for Odd Future’s Australian tour to be canceled and Tyler’s visa to be taken away. The feminist group, however, is far from alone in holding this opinion. Pitchfork reports that a very conservative member of the Australian House of Representatives, Alex Hawke, has supported Collective Shout’s demand that Tyler’s visa be confiscated, stating, “Australia must be clear that we have a zero tolerance for these extreme acts of violence.”
During last week’s show, however, The Guardian reports that Tyler’s typical, highly offensive content was accompanied by a rant intended for Talithia Stone, a Collective Shout member who had tweeted in protest of the misogynistic content in Tyler’s work. Tyler retaliated through shouting into the audience at his performance the following night,
“Fucking bitch, I wish she could hear me call her a bitch, too, fucking whore. Yeah, I got a sold-out show right now bitch. Hey this fucking song is dedicated to you, you fucking cunt.”
Stone, who was standing in the crowd amongst an audience that was joining Tyler in threats against her, recorded the rant on her phone and reported Tyler to the police on allegations of verbal abuse. Stone stated later in an interview,
“My heart was absolutely pounding as I heard him start to mention me,”
“I was petrified. I was standing among the crowd of people who were chanting along with threats towards me.”
Since arriving in Australia less than a week ago, the American Rapper’s trip has culminated in a police-ordered shutdown of an in-store signing, requests that his visa be revoked, and most recently allegations of verbal abuse. Legal action has not yet been taken.
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