Rapper Isaiah Rashad addresses sexuality and alleged sex tape leak during Coachella performance
Isaiah Rashad.(Instagram/ isaiahrashad)
Rapper Isaiah Rashad has, for the first time, addressed an alleged leaked sex tape which appeared to out him as LGBT+.
Footage leaked earlier this year which showed multiple men both giving and receiving oral sex, with many fans claiming Rashard could be identified in the video.
But the TDE rapper, who has often shied away from press attention, finally addressed the issue at the opening of his set at Coachella 2022 in a video montage.
The montage showed the extensive coverage of the sex tape leak in interviews and podcasts with The Game, Joe Budden, DJ Akademiks and more, but also showed how the huge invasion of
his privacy had “backfired”.
One voice is heard saying: “The purpose of doing that was to embarrass him.
“However, it backfired. When his video leaked, his streams and everything went up. He’s up on the charts now.”
isaiah rashad back!
really happy to see my guy out at coachella pic.twitter.com/HkZlCx0Jlj
— kris hooks (@Captain_Hooks) April 17, 2022
Following the leak, fellow artists and fans rallied around Rashad, who had recently opened up about his struggles with addiction.
In later footage from his set, Rashad became emotional and told the audience: “I see all the messages and all that s**t, all the positivity.
“Y’all n****s done kept me alive these last couple months.”
https://twitter.com/Glock_Topickz/status/1515641820889468930
Although Rashad did not confirm whether or not he identifies as LGBT+ at Coachella, fans applauded the “power move”.
One said: “The first time Isaiah Rashad spoke on the controversy surrounding his sexuality is on one of the biggest platforms in the world. He gave a montage of all the blogs that reported on it. That’s a whole power move.”
The first time Isaiah Rashad spoke on the controversy surrounding his sexuality is on one of the biggest platforms in the world. He gave a montage of all the blogs that reported on it. That’s a whole power move 🙌🏾.— Dedee 🥀 (@thoughtfulbae) April 17, 2022
Isaiah Rashad deserves all the love he's getting seeing him cry like this gives me chills https://t.co/HV5wQjN4lc— nkelekejane (@OregoleleF) April 17, 2022
“I’m happy Isaiah Rashad is OK,” said one fan. “See how the internet, especially men reacted to that leaked video?
“We need that same energy for everyone and everything. Receive it positively, accepted and support the individual.”
Another tweeted: “They buried Isaiah Rashad not knowing he’s a seed. Kudos to him and to every LGBTQIA+ person in historically queerphobic spaces for claiming their space.”
