Daniel Caesar is apologizing for his drunken comments about Black folk earlier this week that had him dragged for hours.
The “Best Part” singer has had time to think about his choice to call Black people “disrespectful,“ ”rude,“ and “mean to white people” all while coming to the defense of problematic media personality YesJulz, who is white.
“Why are we being so mean to white people right now? It’s a serious question,” he asked in a live video Tuesday, in which he also admitted to being “f***ing drunk.” “Why is that we’re allowed to be disrespectful and rude to everybody else, and when anybody returns that energy to us.”
“White people have been mean to us in the past, yeah, but what are you going to do about it?” he continued. “Tell me what you’re going to do about that? There’s no answer, other than creating and understanding and keeping it moving. You have to bridge that gap.”
During that rant, he even said that he would not be apologizing for anything he said.
And thought It looks like he had a change of heart, Caesar was very clear when he took to IG Live Saturday night that he was sorry for the delivery of his message rather than the message itself.
“I apologize for how I expressed my idea because that is where I went wrong. I believe in what I said and as a man I need to admit when he is wrong. I can admit when I am wrong,” he said.
Caesar admitted that his sentiments about how people navigate race today were something he and his friends all agreed upon, but that he spoke to the world “in a tyrannical rant” that didn’t leave room to consider dissent.
“It was a tyrannical rant. Because a tyrant doesn’t have people around checking him,” he continued. “And my [friends, when we disagree on something we check each other. But we agreed in that sentiment…but we feel so strongly about it that we didn’t realize how harsh we were coming off.”
Caesar’s original comments trended on Twitter on Tuesday with many choosing to cancel him and read him for filth. But behind the scenes, activist Deray Mckesson said that he was able to connect with Caesar.
We had a frank convo about how his statements disappointed many, reinforced a set of beliefs that did not aid the work of racial equity, & highlighted opportunities to learn. We were both pushed in the convo & it was good. I look forward to seeing him continue to reflect/grow.
“We had a frank convo about how his statements disappointed many, reinforced a set of beliefs that did not aid the work of racial equity, & highlighted opportunities to learn,” McKesson said on Thursday. “We were both pushed in the convo & it was good. I look forward to seeing him continue to reflect/grow.”
And it seems the lessons the message must have hit home for Caesar who admitted that he hated being wrong, but realized it was “a full circle “moment.
“Honestly I am glad this all happened because I am coming full circle,” he said. “This sh*** has been hurting me and I believe like pain is a weakness leaving the body.”
