A 20-second clip of Atlanta and Get Out star Lakeith Stanfield spouting off a homophobic rap surfaced online this week. Now, the actor is offering his “sincerest apologies” along with a bizarre explanation for it.
The original video was originally posted on Stanfield’s Instagram account but was quickly deleted.
“That’s some gay sh*t,” he raps. “F*g, I don’t really like to brag but I’m straight, rich.”
Shortly thereafter it was reposted on Twitter by user @_BayBey, along with the caption: “So @lakeithlakeith from @AtlantaFX && @Sorry2BotherYou Though this ‘freestyle’ (that you can clearly see him looking down & reading) was appropriate?! Lol ppl are truly Homophobic weirdos Lakeith Stanfield sis you played yourself.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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So @lakeithlakeith from @AtlantaFX && @Sorry2BotherYou Though this “freestyle” (that you can clearly see him looking down & reading) was appropriate?! Lol ppl are truly Homophobic weirdos Lakeith Stanfield sis you played yourself pic.twitter.com/5N5F7Nexs2
— Bre'on (@_BayBey) June 23, 2018
Now, the 26-year-old actor claims that it wasn’t actually him in the video, but rather “a character.”
“I assume characters that have different viewpoints and different views on life and just different perspectives,” he explains. “Some things my views are aligned with and some things my views aren’t aligned with.”
The character he was playing, Stanfield says, is “definitely not in line with and I definitely don’t believe those things.”
He continues, “I’ve never been homophobic. Have never agreed with homophobic thought or hatred toward anyone for that matter.”
Except for that time he was homophobic. But apparently that doesn’t count. Since it wasn’t him. Even though it looked like him and it was posted to his personal Instagram account and there was no mention of it being anyone other than himself.
“I’m a person that moves in love and I want to promote and continue to push that,” Stanfield says. “I apologize if I hurt anybody, sincerely. That wasn’t my intention—to be somebody that was out here just slinging arrows and hurting people.”
“I want them to know that I apologize that they had to feel sadness from that. So my sincerest apologies.”
Watch Stanfield’s apology below.
— Lakeith Stanfield (@lakeithlakeith) June 26, 2018
Larry McD
Oh, would that Roseanne could have thought of this! Bwahahahahaha.
Black Pegasus
So he was in character mode when he mouthed off that vitriolic nonsense? Such BULLSH**T!
He should’ve taken a page from MSNBC’s Joy Reid’s playbook by claiming his Instagram was hacked. That incredulous bold face lie worked for Joy Reid, I’m sure it will work for any bigot in entertainment these days.
Xzamilloh
I mean, Joy had plausible deniability (if you can call it that at this point), but Lakeith is on video saying it, so he can’t fake the funk like she did… and she DID.
Kieran
Who was he playing? Joy Reid?
SarcasaticMisanthrope
Was he on Ambien at the time? Mary Louise ought to just own his comments. Next time you’ll find him down at the local glory hole.
LilMesican
He can’t even look at the camera… But I’m confused, is it him or the ‘character’ apologizing? Either way, I’m not insulted, I don’t listen to Rap so I would have never known had it not been on here. Fact, I don’t even watch the show.
(me in character) Señor, you are not big enough in my world to care about you. I usually write stuff and then immediately delete it, not this time.
Johndoes
he all but deleted his account now
DCguy
It totally wasn’t him…it was character.
Just like that totally wasn’t him in whatever gay porn scene that will probably leak out….I’m sure it was just a character.
Here’s a thought for this guy. If he wasn’t cast in a movie, and the role was given to a white actor, then he heard the casting director rapping that same refrain except changing out the gay reference to black……I’m guessing he wouldn’t buy their excuse just like nobody’s buying his.
Magiqua
DCguy, you have hit the nail on the head with your last point. And it would probably get way more media attention complete with burning pitchforks if it had happened that way. Pure hypocrisy.
MaxTaste
Never heard of this person.
QueerTruth
LMAO. Is this the “my dog ate my homework” excuse for entertainers to be hateful bigots? “Oh, I’m just acting. I’m playing a character.”
Please…. Try again.
Birdbrain1963
I cry bullshit!