Rapper Lil Wayne set the internet on fire after appearing on the sports show “Undisputed” and explaining how he has never been a victim of racism in his lifetime.
Hosts Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe both seemed perplexed by Wayne’s response when the topic inevitably landed on Colin Kaepernick’s recent decision to sit during the national anthem and the state of racism in America.
It was almost as if the rapper knew his response was going to cause a stir, but he went for it anyway.
“(sigh) Skip, they wouldn’t want ask me that. They wouldn’t want my answer to represent it, because God knows I have been nothing but blessed. My whole path, these 33 years have been nothing but a blessing. I have never – never is a strong word – never dealt with racism and I’m glad I didn’t have to. I don’t know if it’s because of my blessings, but it is my reality.”
The internet predictably went absolutely crazy. Media outlets on the left mocked him for ‘claiming racism doesn’t exist‘, even though that’s not what he said. Outlets on the right, meanwhile, positioned it as some sort of proof that Kaepernick, Black Lives Matter and those claiming American racism is alive and well were dead wrong.
In truth, Wayne’s statement should not be controversial in the least. He merely relayed his own personal life experiences, all the while admitting that others may not see it the same way. Sharpe understood this and explained it, Bayless seemed surprised but content to just sit back and watch it all unfold.
The internet, however, not so much.
Lil Wayne’s comments weren’t some big statement on the falsehood of racism. It was just merely one dude answering a tough question in a very reasonable way – by sharing his own life experience. When comments like this hit the news, it’s tempting for both sides to want to co-opt the commentary and spike the ball. But that reaction never produces any fruit, only more division.
Especially when both sides are wildly incorrect. Watch the entire interview and decide for yourself – especially stay tuned to the end just to hear his amazing story of how an officer saved his life after accidentally shooting himself.