The Roots' social media-loving drummer Questlove has brought a lot of negative attention to himself over recent, racially insensitive Instagram posts.
The posts in question were delivered earlier this week during the Roots Japanese tour and have both Questlove and the band's manager Dawn Engelheart swapping "l" and "r," such as "Hey @dawnenglehart is it racist for me to write the Sour Tlain? #chipanesedownunder2013."
Questlove also posted a pic of a Japanese department store worker with the caption "Talks In Tongues #chipanesedownunder2013."
Following some online hubbub, the posts were removed, but a Vine is still up that has Questlove filming a man sleeping on a train (watch below). The post is captioned: "McSnoleArot."
Yesterday (December 26), after being criticized for his activity, Questlove uploaded an apology to Okayplayer, admitting that he "offended my asian brothers & sisters."
Of the department store worker, Questlove said he was trying to point out how the woman had a "vocal intonation to that of a (church) deacon speaking in tongues," which at the time he felt was "funny-cute." He's since gone on to retract his statement after realizing he had caused offence.
He wrote: "In hindsight, it's easy to see how my post was yet another example of the ugly, American flipping yet another ugly/racially/culturally insensitive script. so, let me make this abundantly clear….THE ISH THAT I SAID WAS DUMB (PERIOD)."
Questlove added, "Look. I'm a human being and dumber yet, I'm a public figure. If you're lucky enough to be either of the aforementioned, then not only should one stay clear of saying or writing hurtful things, one should actively work against feeling comfortable, thinking hurtful thoughts. Given that black culture consistently finds itself at the butt end of so many offensive 'outsider' jokes, I should be way, way more sensitive."
You can read Questlove's full statement here.
The posts in question were delivered earlier this week during the Roots Japanese tour and have both Questlove and the band's manager Dawn Engelheart swapping "l" and "r," such as "Hey @dawnenglehart is it racist for me to write the Sour Tlain? #chipanesedownunder2013."
Questlove also posted a pic of a Japanese department store worker with the caption "Talks In Tongues #chipanesedownunder2013."
Following some online hubbub, the posts were removed, but a Vine is still up that has Questlove filming a man sleeping on a train (watch below). The post is captioned: "McSnoleArot."
Yesterday (December 26), after being criticized for his activity, Questlove uploaded an apology to Okayplayer, admitting that he "offended my asian brothers & sisters."
Of the department store worker, Questlove said he was trying to point out how the woman had a "vocal intonation to that of a (church) deacon speaking in tongues," which at the time he felt was "funny-cute." He's since gone on to retract his statement after realizing he had caused offence.
He wrote: "In hindsight, it's easy to see how my post was yet another example of the ugly, American flipping yet another ugly/racially/culturally insensitive script. so, let me make this abundantly clear….THE ISH THAT I SAID WAS DUMB (PERIOD)."
Questlove added, "Look. I'm a human being and dumber yet, I'm a public figure. If you're lucky enough to be either of the aforementioned, then not only should one stay clear of saying or writing hurtful things, one should actively work against feeling comfortable, thinking hurtful thoughts. Given that black culture consistently finds itself at the butt end of so many offensive 'outsider' jokes, I should be way, way more sensitive."
You can read Questlove's full statement here.
