Doja Cat has been declawed by Black Twitter. The “Say So” rapper issued a public apology Sunday after receiving backlash over her presence in chat rooms containing alt-right content and users, and a controversial resurfaced song called “Dindu Nuffin.”
Over the weekend, hashtags such as #DojaCatIsOverParty and #OnlyKlans trended on Twitter with many fans calling for an explanation from the rapper, whose birth name is Amalaratna Dlamini.
Usually flippant in the face of call out culture, the chart-topping artist was seemingly contrite in the statement she posted on Instagram.
“I want to address what’s been happening on Twitter,” she began in a statement. “I’ve used public chat rooms to socialize since I was a child. I shouldn’t have been on some of those chat room sites, but I personally have never been involved in any racist conversations. I’m sorry to everyone I offended.”
Doja went on to reject the public’s interpretation of the 2015 song “Dindu Nuffin” after many claimed the rapper was mocking police brutality. The rapper said that instead she was attempting to reclaim the term, which is used by racists typically referring to unarmed Black men and women gunned down by the police, after it was used to insult her.
“I’m a Black woman. Half of my family is Black from South Africa and I’m very proud of where I come from. As for the old song that’s resurfaced, it was in no way tied to anything outside of my own personal experience. It was written in response to people who often used that term to hurt me,” she wrote, admitting it was a poor choice.
“I made an attempt to flip its meaning, but recognize that it was a bad decision to use the term in my music,” she added. “I understand my influence and impact and I’m taking this all very seriously.”
Doja concluded by saying that she loves her fans and that she’s “sorry for upsetting or hurting any of you. That’s not my character, and I’m determined to show that to everyone moving forward.”
This isn’t the first time Doja has been called out for prejudice. In 2018, she ended up apologizing for a 2015 homophobic tweet that had resurfaced. Initially, however, she tried to defend herself.