Afro-Latina singer Amara La Negra is coming to Gina Rodriguez's defense after the star said "n***a" while singing a Fugees song. 

She told TMZ she didn’t believe Rodriguez was using it maliciously while singing "Ready Or Not." She adds that if people didn’t want others to use the word, then it shouldn’t be used so often in songs. 

“She was reciting a song, it wasn’t like she was talking to someone or being confrontational. I don’t think she meant it in a harmful way,” the singer said. 

The Love and Hip Hop star, who uses her platform to advocate against colorism, added that she does understand both sides of the argument, saying the Someone Great actress shouldn’t have posted the video. 

While talking to the camera, the “Se Que Soy” singer addressed her own use of the word, saying she is among those who can say it because her skin is darker. 

“It’s a very thin line, because I would lie if I say I don’t use it, that a lot of people use it. Like I said, I’ve never used it in a malicious way,” she said. “But I’ve even been told I can’t say it because I’m Afro-Latina. ‘You’re not Black, you know. You’re Latin so you’re not allowed to say it either.'”

To defend her argument, the Dominican-American says a lot of Latinx people are raised alongside Black people and those individuals believe they are a part of the community. She ends the video by saying everyone makes mistakes and believes the Jane the Virgin actress was genuinely sorry. 

The 29-year-old isn’t the only person to come to Rodriguez’s defense. Boyz II Men singer Shawn Stockman believes the actress is Black because of her Puerto Rican heritage, he told TMZ. 

“A lot of people don’t acknowledge that but she’s Black. She’s from Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Mexicans, believe it or not, we all here [rubs his skin], just look at the history,” he said. 

He concluded that she should have censored herself while she was singing though. 

“Here’s my thing, she was singing a song and if you’re going to sing a song, make sure that you censor yourself. We can all censor ourselves as we’re singing right?”


Rodriguez’s post has caused many to question who gets a pass when saying the word, even bringing up other celebrities who have used it such as Jennifer Lopez, French Montana and Cardi B.