Longtime singer CeeLo Green took to Twitter on Wednesday to admit he was wrong in criticizing leading female rappers like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, who released their raunchy new song "WAP" on Friday.
In an August 9 cover story for Far Out magazine, Green caused outrage when he questioned the "cost" of women discussing their sexuality and criticized successful women rappers for their content.
"A lot of music today is very unfortunate and disappointing on a personal and moral level. There was once a time when we were savvy enough to code certain things. We could express to those it was meant for with the style of language we used. But now music is shameless, it is sheer savagery," he said in the interview.
"Attention is also a drug and competition is around. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, they are all more or less doing similar salacious gesturing to kinda get into position. I get it, the independent woman and being in control, the divine femininity and sexual expression. I get it all," he added. "You have the ‘Heads of State,’ like Nicki Minaj or someone who is up there in accolade: success, visibility, a platform to influence."
Green went on to say that Nicki "could be effective in so many other constructive ways, but it feels desperate."
The comments drew immediate backlash from people online who noted Green's hypocrisy. One of his biggest hits is titled "F**k You," and in 2013 he pleaded not guilty to putting ecstasy in a woman's drink and raping her, The Guardian reported.
He eventually pleaded no contest to a felony count of supplying ecstasy, TMZ reported.
He then caused further controversy when he tweeted at the time: "Women who have really been raped REMEMBER!!! If someone is passed out they're not even WITH you consciously! so WITH Implies consent."
He deleted those tweets and later sent out an apology, Billboard reported.
"Let me 1st praise god for exoneration fairness & freedom! Secondly I sincerely apologize for my comments being taken so far out of context. I only intended on a healthy exchange to help heal those who love me from the pain I had already caused from this. Please forgive me as it was your support that got me thru this to begin with. I'd never condone the harm of any women. Thank you," he wrote on Twitter in 2014.