Critics of Chicago rapper Vic Mensa are calling for a boycott of the artist's music after he lambasted late rapper XXXTentacion's alleged history of domestic abuse.
On Sunday, DJ Scheme, who previously collaborated with the late rapper, appeared offended by a cypher which took place during a taping of the BET Hip Hop Awards. Mensa called out hip-hop's tendency to look the other way regarding domestic abuse, and he mentioned XXX in the cypher.
yo bro how u gone say
“Your favorite rapper is an abuser” and then follow it with a line saying “some shit X some shit so I won’t live long” u can deny it but everyone who was there heard that shit— BAD VIBES (@DJSCHEME_) October 7, 2018
The "16 shots" rapper is standing by his decision to address domestic violence during the taping of the annual awards show but apologized to XXXTentacion's mother, Cleopatra Bernard, in a Monday Instagram post.
"I had no idea a grieving mother would be in the audience to honor her lost son," Mensa said in the video. "However, I vehemently reject the trend in hip-hop of championing abusers, and I will not hold my tongue about it."
He added he isn't concerned with gaining attention. He only wants people held "accountable for their actions."
"Protect women," he wrote in the post's caption. "Domestic & sexual abuse are not excusable because you have talent or you are troubled."
Early on in XXX's career, the "Sad" rapper was accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend among other allegations of domestic abuse presented in a 142-page transcript from a deposition involving the victim.
Mensa shared screenshots of disparaging messages and harassment sent to the director of his charity following his cypher and subsequent video.
Over on Twitter, the controversy has escalated into threats of boycotts, challenges of Mensa's manhood and even violence for the cypher.
In the following days, fans and supporters of XXX have disavowed Mensa claiming the rapper's music is irrelevant and digging up allegations of abuse against Mensa himself.
sooooo… vic mensa called x an abuser in front of his grieving mother even though he wrote a song about choking a girl. gotcha https://t.co/JXFrfDe1bv
— adam22 (@adam22) October 7, 2018
Vic Mensa is now cancelled.
— XAN MAN (@_StevenCannon) October 8, 2018
Yo @VicMensa you pussy .
— zoey dollaz (@ZoeyDollaz) October 8, 2018
But it seems Mensa isn't backing down for speaking out and is continuing to defend himself on Twitter and other social media platforms.
so if i say something honest about another public person im a clout chaser? FOH ????
— vino valentino (@VicMensa) October 8, 2018
The public likely won't get to see the cypher igniting the controversy until October 16 when the award show airs.
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