Boy George suggests boycott of Eminem’s homophobic single
Boy George has criticised US rapper Eminem for using violently homophobic lyrics in his latest single “Rap God”.
It was released earlier this week and has topped the UK and US iTunes charts.
The first verse contains lyrics about breaking “a mother******* table over the back of a couple faggots and crack it in half,” and, “You fags think it’s all a game.”
The second verse continues: “Little gay-looking boy / So gay I can barely say it with a straight face-looking boy / You witnessing massacre like you watching a church gathering taking place-looking boy / ‘Oy vey, that boy’s gay,’ that’s all they say looking-boy.”
Culture Club singer and DJ Boy George has tweeted that music fans should avoid buying Eminem’s album.
He also asked the controversial rapper if his use of the word “fag” consisted of “recovery talk” – before adding “are you running your own program these days?”
.@Eminem Fag? Is this really recovery talk or are you running your own program these days?
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) October 17, 2013
George then urged his Twitter followers to avoid posting negative comments.
My comment about ‘Eminem’s use of ‘Fag’ was not a call to my followers to post further abuse! Really unhelpful!
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) October 17, 2013
He also tweeted: “Isn’t it sad how the media just accepts abuse of gay people?” – in response to a user who said gay pop star Adam Lambert had received less radio airplay in the US because of his sexuality.
@Cazglambert I was talking about Adam yesterday in an interview and I said this very thing. If he was British, he’s be huge here!
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) October 18, 2013
This is not the first time that Eminem has been accused of homophobia. In 2010, the rapper defended his use of the word “faggot” to US journalist Anderson Cooper, saying that where he was brought up it was used as a general insult rather than a homophobic slur.
Richard Lane, media manager at Stonewall, said: “Compared to inspirational modern artists like Frank Ocean and Macklemore, who have vocally supported tackling homophobia, Eminem seems stuck in the last century with these outdated and deeply offensive lyrics.”
