South Park just played out in real life on a college campus… again. First there was the “outrage” over Trump 2016 sidewalk chalk, now there’s SJW anger over a school inviting one of hip hop’s most lovable rappers to campus for a performance. Iconic Queens rapper, chef, an F*ck That’s Delicious host Action Bronson was scheduled to perform at Trinity’s Spring Weekend 2016 on April 30. But the college backed out on their contract after “we were made aware of the severity and depth of some of Action Bronson’s lyrics.”
A Change.org petition at Trinity received 1,265 signatures and stated, according to Billboard, that “we believe that Action Bronson headlining Spring Weekend is an endorsement of violence, specifically against women and minorities.” Here’s how the school phrases it in a Facebook announcement about the decision:
In the beginning of March we were made aware of the severity and depth of some of Action Bronson’s lyrics. We began to create a strategy to keep members of our community safe and began drafting our response to the backlash that we anticipated. Following news that Action Bronson was being removed as the headlining artist for Spring Weekend at The George Washington University, our executive-board committee voted on March 31st to remove Action Bronson from our Spring Weekend concert because of his lyrics, music, videos, and the misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia that they promote. As a result, there was an overpowering majority to support the removal of Action Bronson. We would also like to state that we do not think that his lyrics are representative of all of Hip-Hop music and Hip-Hop culture. The result of this vote was taken to our administrative advisor from the S.A.I.L. office. Our concerns about bringing Action Bronson to campus were brought to other administrators and our contract was looked over by the College’s legal counsel who could not find a way out of our binding contract without losing the full amount of money that was promised in the contract. Through communication with the administration, it was decided that bringing Action Bronson to campus was the best option at the time, with the addition of a legal addendum, which would forbid Action Bronson from performing any songs that went against the College’s mission.
This is actually the second time this has happened to Bronson this spring. He was supposed to perform at George Washington University‘s Spring Fling, but outrage reached a fever-pitch when students discovered he wrote a song called “Consensual Rape” in 2011. An editor for the school’s student newspaper called him “a blatant misogynist” with “a history of transphobia, according to Pitchfork. Shortly after, he released a statement on how the lyrics in the songs that SJWs are pointing to is his artistic expression:
To the Students at George Washington University and the public at large:
I’m writing this letter to hopefully bring clarity to some misconceptions about who I am as an artist and as a person. It has become clear to me that things have reached a point which makes me feel the need to address the issues raised so that we can bring some understanding and healing to the table, so to speak. I can’t continue to walk around with the thought that people are thinking these things about me that are far from who I really am.
Five years ago in 2011, I wrote a song called “Consensual Rape” that admittedly contains lyrics and a general sentiment of violence towards woman which I never meant to represent who I am but rather to depict a story. I approach my music as other types of artists approach their work, and I don’t always intend the stories that I tell, the characters that I play in them or the lyrics I lay down to be taken literally. The songs I make aren’t any different than a director creating a movie, or an author writing a book meaning they contain scenes or things happen in them that aren’t meant to be anything but an artistic expression- just a song, a book or a film. I’ve never performed “Consensual Rape” at a concert, and I don’t plan to.
Regardless, I understand that when it comes to musicians, and more specifically rappers, the lyrics I say are taken to heart many times as a representation of my beliefs or true feelings. SO please let me make this very clear: I think rape and acts of violence toward woman are DISGUSTING. I would never condone anything remotely close to that type of behavior, and it’s certainly not what I’m about at all. But, the song in question has caused people discomfort and pain and I’m sincerely sorry about it. It was not my intention to hurt people when I made it years ago, and I certainly will be much more sensitive on this matter moving ahead.
Similarly, there has been some attention placed on a insensitive Instagram post I made years ago regarding me inappropriately labelling someone as transexual and being disrespectful to them in a way that is not ok. I have sat with members of the LGBT community recently in an effort to understand how to avoid being hurtful and insensitive towards these issues moving forward. I have never had any issues with anyone’s sexual orientation or gender transitioning. I’m far, far from perfect and I recognize my flaws and I’m making an effort to grow and be a better human.
Thanks for reading this.
-Action Bronson
Sucks for students of both schools who wanted to see the rapper. Bronson puts on an amazing live show. In the words of the chorus of Bronson’s “Baby Blue,” “why you always all on my back… why you gotta do me like that?”
Stream that shit. Fight the power: