Azealia Banks has defended Tyler, The Creator following his 3-5 year ban from the UK, saying Eminem deserves the same treatment but will never be singled out for his lyrical content because he’s white.
Yesterday it was announced that Tyler, real name Tyler Gregory Okonma, had to cancel a number of gigs in the UK after his presence was deemed “not conductive for public good” by the home secretary.
They referenced his numerous homophobic lyrics, saying he “encouraged violence and intolerance of homosexuality” and “foster[ed] hatred” with his provocative views.
Banks, however, took to Twitter (as she has become well known for doing) to point out how hypocritical it was to hold her friend to those standards while not banning other rappers who are known for offensive lyrical content.
So if the UK is banning Tyler the creator for some old lyrics about harming women they should ban Eminem too?
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 27, 2015
Oh yeah that's right... Eminem is white so he gets the courtesy of being forgiven in the public eye....
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 27, 2015
Tyler is just a nerd who is not going to harm anyone. I think banning him from the UK is very very unfair.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 27, 2015
Society just needs to be consistent with its outrage.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) August 27, 2015
“So the UK is banning Tyler the creator for some old lyrics about harming women they should ban Eminem too?” she tweeted.
She added that “Oh yeah that’s right… Eminem is white so he gets the courtesy of being forgiven in the public eye…”
In a statement, the home secretary explained their decision, saying: “Coming to the UK is a privilege, and we expect those who come here to respect our shared values."
“The Home Secretary has the power to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good or their exclusion is justified on public policy grounds.”
