J. Cole posts lengthy apology over autism reference
J. Cole has penned a lengthy apology after making a controversial reference to autism in his new collaboration with Drake.
The hip-hop star has teamed up with his peer for new track Jodeci Freestyle, but the song caused outrage due to a line about the disorder, in which he brands his rivals "autistic, retarded".
Autism campaigners, including Holly Robinson Peete, whose eldest
son suffers from the condition, took aim at Cole, and now he has
taken to the web to say sorry for any offence caused.
In a post on his website, he writes, "In a recent verse on the song
'Jodeci Freestyle', I said something highly offensive to people
with Autism. Last week, when I first saw a comment from someone
outraged about the lyric, I realised right away that what I said
was wrong. I was instantly embarrassed that I would be ignorant
enough say something so hurtful. What makes the crime worse is that
I should have known better.
"To the entire Autism community who expressed outrage, I'm moved
and inspired by your passion, and I'm amazed at how strong you are
as a unit. I have now read stories online from parents about their
struggles and triumphs with raising an Autistic child and I admire
how incredibly strong you have to be to do so. It's touching. It
also makes what I said even more embarrassing for me. I feel real
shame. You have every right to be angry."
The star adds he is now eager to learn more about autism and what
life is like for sufferers in a bid to be better informed in the
future: "I want to educate myself more on Autism, and I'll gladly
own my mistake and serve as an example to today's generation that
there's nothing cool about mean-spirited comments about someone
with Autism. People with this disorder and their loved ones have to
go through so much already, the last thing they need is to hear
something as ignorant as what I said."