After the killing of 20-year-old Florida rapper XXXTentacion Monday, June 18, many folks on Twitter have been quick to declare their sympathies or lack thereof for the artist who had an alleged history of domestic abuse and violence toward the gay community.
For many, his actions can't be forgiven even after his passing.
Blavity reported XXXTentacion was leaving a South Florida motorcycle dealership when a gunman approached his vehicle and shot him. Witnesses said he was unresponsive and had no pulse at the scene.
Rapper Jidenna tried to weigh in on the incident. When news broke pronouncing XXXTentacion's death, he said the Miami rapper was too young to die and had the potential to change like someone of Malcolm X's stature.
"For those who are so woke that their compassion is asleep, remember this…if Malcolm X was killed at the age of 20, he would have died an abuser, a thief, an addict, and a narrow-minded depressed & violent criminal," he wrote in a tweet. "So, I believe in change for the young."
Allegations became public last year when Pitchfork obtained a 142-page transcript of a reported victim's testimony. It detailed graphic displays of abuse. The woman claimed XXXTentacion slapped her and crushed her iPhone for complimenting a male friend.
He also allegedly threatened to shove a barbecue utensil into her privates as punishment. Later in 2016, he was accused of punching, elbowing and brutalizing the woman for allegedly having sex with another man.
Jidenna's tweet set off Twitter, of course. Many claimed Jidenna has an ahistorical view on Malcolm X's life. Others challenged him for equating XXXTentacion's troubled early years which includes abuse allegations to that of the famed civil rights freedom fighter Malcolm X.
SO XXXTADPOLE IS MALCOLM X NOW pic.twitter.com/cPyhOb28Ca
— Clarkisha Kent: Steve Rogers' Coiffeur (@IWriteAllDay_) June 18, 2018
Do not invoke Malcolm X to defend some man who beat the fuck out of women and queer people and was as repugnant as he was unrepentant for his actions. Why are so many of y’all wanting to speak about him after his death and where were y’all when his victims were talking?! https://t.co/g49ZlqiREd
— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) June 18, 2018
20 is way too young to die. It’s also true that abuse being excused as a apart of someone’s ✌????growing process✌????is really fucked up…especially for victims. Hard to see that if you’re relating to the abuser & not the victim(S) so…here we are.
— Reagan Gomez (@ReaganGomez) June 19, 2018
The fact that you can chalk up his violence as youthful indiscretion or ‘troubles’ only let’s me know you all have accepted abuse, violent homophobia, and sexual assault as ‘growing pains’
— Danie Durst (@daniecal) June 18, 2018
i cant believe yall have reached “maybe he would’ve grown up to be malcolm x” levels of misogyny fix it jesus!!! https://t.co/k2quhU5nx1
— mariam (@getmebodi3d) June 18, 2018
He wouldn't have been Malcolm X. He would've been Malcolm Little, Detroit Red etc. You wouldn't be talking about him like the countless number of young Black men who die young (and shouldn't). So this makes little to no sense to me.
— Charlene Carruthers (@CharleneCac) June 19, 2018
.@Jidenna is comparing a rich 20-year-old musician who is unrepentant and abusive to women, who vocally rejected feminism and the MeToo movement….to Detroit Redd AKA Malcolm Little
Malcolm at 20 was robbing rich white folks and SURVIVING in Boston.
Malcolm X said this: pic.twitter.com/FpE7cEokRC
— Charles Preston (@_CharlesPreston) June 19, 2018
You S-curl having, Five Heartbeats cosplaying ass buffoon… I never liked you. I will continue not liking you.
Clown shoes ass "classic man" going up for an abuser under the guise of a Malcolm X hypothetical.
— Isaiah (@Bboy_Izilla) June 18, 2018
Y'all music industry niggas never even piped up when his girlfriend was getting beat or when his fans harassed her so much she had to leave her job or when he beat a gay man nearly to death just for starring at him but now we're supposed to believe he's Malcolm x reincarnated
— Fiona Applebum ???? (@hannaallison_) June 18, 2018
After a storm of backlash, Jidenna has attempted to clarify his statement. He wrote on Twitter that XXXTentacion's life was cut short, and he may have changed. "I do believe kharma was at work, however, so I pray that men heed this warning and that we revere women more than any generation b4 us," he tweeted.
My point here is not to equate Malcolm with XXX, but to point out that a young lost kid can evolve into something greater. I do believe kharma was at work, however, so I pray that men heed this warning and that we revere women more than any generation b4 us.
— Jidenna (@Jidenna) June 18, 2018
