Vic Mensa is not backing down after coming under fire for dissing XXXTentacion during his BET Hip Hop Awards cypher.
During Saturday’s taping in Miami, the Chicago MC made reference to the late rapper’s alleged abuse, while his mother Cleopatra Bernard was in the audience to accept the award for Best New Hip Hop Artist on her son’s behalf.
In his freestyle, Mensa reportedly said, “Your favorite rapper is an abuser” before referencing XXX.
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
After facing backlash, Mensa addressed his controversial comments about XXX. “Recently I did a freestyle for the BET Awards cypher, addressing and condemning rappers who unabashedly abuse women and those who stand up for them and even call them legends,” he said in an Instagram video on Monday (Oct. 8).
According to Mensa, the cypher was pre-recorded weeks ago and he did not know that XXX’s mother would be in attendance. “I had no idea a grieving mother would be in the audience to honor her lost son,” he said. “I never intended to disrespect her and I offer my deepest condolences for her loss at the hands of gun violence.”
However, he stands by what he said. “I vehemently reject the trend in hip-hop of championing abusers and I will not hold my tongue about it,” he continued. “I don’t give a fuck about getting attention. I care about bringing awareness and holding people accountable for their actions.”
In response, XXX fans were quick to call out Mensa for allegedly choking his former girlfriend, which he spoke about during a 2016 visit to “The Breakfast Club.” “I’m not proud of that,” he said. “That was something I had to learn and grow from. I have the utmost respect for women.”