Rapper and podcast host N.O.R.E. is apologizing after facing backlash over Drink Champ‘s latest episode featuring Kanye ‘Ye’ West.
This morning, N.O.R.E. hopped on a call with The Breakfast Club to address and apologize for Sunday night’s episode featuring Kanye “Ye” West, where the rapper and entrepreneur made offensive statements about the murder of George Floyd.
“I just want to be honest, I support freedom of speech. I support anybody not being censored. But I do not support anybody being hurt. I did not realize that the George Floyd statements on my show were so hurtful,” N.O.R.E. shared, saying West shared the controversial remarks during the first five minutes of the show.
He added that before the show started, West told Drink Champs producers that if they stopped filming, then he would walk out of the production. “I didn’t want a Birdman moment,” said N.O.R.E.
“I wanted the man to speak, but later on, I actually checked him about the George Floyd comments. I actually checked him about the White Lives Matter. But, it was so later in the episode, and it was so — I was already inebriated at that time that maybe people looked over it. But, I apologize to the George Floyd family. I apologize to anybody that was hurt by Kanye West’s comments. Although I do support free speech, I am Black-Black,” he went on.
Over the last 21 hours, the Revolt’s Drink Champs podcast has been getting blasted over its Sunday episode with Kanye “Ye” West, who spewed false claims about the murder of George Floyd. During the episode, West falsely claimed fentanyl was the cause of Floyd’s death, saying former Derek Chauvin’s knee “wasn’t even on [Floyd’s] neck like that.” West also opened up about Candace Owens’ Black Lives Matter documentary and made other controversial statements.
This led to the entire Drink Champs platform being called out for allowing West a platform for him to share reckless comments.
“I’m sorry, but @noreaga should be ashamed of that interview,” said a journalist on Twitter. “And I love N.O.R.E. – music, everything. I don’t know him personally, but he seems like a good guy, but he should be ashamed of that interview. You can’t do that unless you are going to challenge and discuss things.” Others online like suggested Floyd’s estate take legal action against West over his words.
