Erykah Badu Sits Down with Vulture To Discuss The Evolution of Hip-Hop, Empathy and Being A Humanist: “I See Good In Everybody. I Saw Something Good In Hitler”

Erykah Badu says there is good in everyone, even those who are considered evil. In a recent interview with Vulture, the legendary artist touched on a slew of topics from Jedi mind tricks to millennials to the sunken place.

However, amid the release of the interview, fans were taken aback by Badu’s mention of Adolf Hitler. The topic came up after David Marchese shifted the discussion to Louis Farrakhan and his alleged anti-Semitism.

The two revisited an old article from Badu’s visit to Palestine. At the time, she was wildly criticized for defending Farrakhan amid his alleged anti-semitic views, but Badu used her time with Vulture to clarify her position on the honorable minister.

“So I’d gone to Palestine and journalist asked me, ‘Do you believe in Louis Farrakhan? Do you follow him?’ Sure I do,” she said. “I’ll follow anyone who has positive aspects.”

Although Farrakhan has flaws, “like any man,” Badu explained that she was appreciative of what he had done for “a lot of Black Americans.” Although she is not spiritually connected to any religion, she said she is an observer, “who can see good and bad things.” But, just because you say something good about someone, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve chosen their side, she explained, adding that she is in no way anti-semitic.

“I’m a humanist,” she continued. “I see good in everybody. I saw something good in Hitler.”

“Come again,” Marchese questioned. “Yeah, I did,” she said. “Hitler was a wonderful painter.”

Marchese then refuted her statement and questioned what his skill had to do with the “good” that is in Hitler – a man that ordered the deaths of 6 million people.

“Ok, he was a terrible painter. Poor thing. He had a terrible childhood. That means that when I’m looking at my daughter, Mars, I could imagine her being in someone else’s home and being treated so poorly, and what that could spawn. I see things like that. I guess it’s just the Pisces in me.”

As Marchese continued to question Badu’s thought process, Badu continued with her explanation.

“I don’t care if the whole group says something, I’m going to be honest. I know I don’t have the most popular opinion sometimes,” she said, as she questioned Marchese’s confusion. “Why can’t I say what I’m saying? Because he [Hitler] did such terrible things?” She asked.

“Well, yes,” Marchese answered. “But it’s also disheartening to hear you say that at a time, like now, when racism and anti-Semitism are so much in the air. Why would you want to risk putting fuel on that fire?” He asked.

“You asked me a question,” she said. “I could’ve chosen not to answer. I don’t walk around thinking about Hitler or Louis Farrakhan. But I understand what you’re saying: ‘Why would you want to risk fueling hateful thinking?’, I have a platform, and I would never want to hurt people. I would never do that. I would never even imagine doing that. I would never even want a group of white men who believe that the Confederate flag is worth saving to feel bad. That’s not how I operate.”

What are your thoughts?