Chad Batka for The New York Times Rick Ross performing in June 2012.The Miami rapper Rick Ross sent Twitter messages to his fans and to his sponsors on Thursday apologizing for a lyric in his song “U.O.E.N.O.†that seems to condone rape.
The twin apologies came after the lyric drew criticism from the women’s group UltraViolet and from other rappers, who said Mr. Ross seemed insensitive when he spoke in the song about drugging a woman and taking her home.
Last week, Mr. Ross was unrepentant when he appeared on the New Orleans radio station Q93 to defend himself and his rhyme:
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.
The rapper said he had been misunderstood, pointing out “the word rape wasn’t used.â€
But criticism continued to build. Talib Kweli, a New York rapper, called Ross misguided on the Huffington Post. “Rick Ross condoned rape in that song and he shouldn’t, and he should apologize, and the apology that he offered was unacceptable,†he said.
Then UltraViolet, a feminist organization, threatened to protest outside a Reebok store in Manhattan and promised to circulate a petition demanding the company cut ties with the rapper. The group’s co-founder Nita Chaudhary told Reuters that the performer “is pushing the idea that if you don’t use the word ‘rape’ it doesn’t count. We are fed up and disgusted with Reebok.â€
In response Mr. Ross sent a terse comment out over Twitter on Thursday afternoon: “I don’t condone rape. Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape.†He followed it an hour later with a second message: “Apologies to my many business partners, who would never promote violence against women.†That note specifically mentioned Reebok and UltraViolet.
