(AllHipHop News) Action Bronson has become the latest rapper to face backlash over lyrics in his music. The Queens, New York native was dropped from George Washington University’s Spring Fling after students launched a Change.org petition calling for his removal from the event. The protesters claimed Bronson “promotes rape, his videos promote violence against women, and his social media promotes violence against the trans community. He is violently transphobic and misogynistic.”

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The student-run George Washington University’s Program Board decided to remove Bronson from the showcase scheduled for Saturday. The Program Board stated, “We apologize to the GW community for causing distress over the past few days and for attempting to bring an artist who is not consistent with our values of diversity and inclusion.”

Bronson has issued a statement regarding the situation:

To the Students at George Washington University and the public at large:

I’m writing this letter to hopefully bring clarity to some misconceptions about who I am as an artist and as a person. It has become clear to me that things have reached a point which makes me feel the need to address the issues raised so that we can bring some understanding and healing to the table, so to speak. I can’t continue to walk around with the thought that people are thinking these things about me that are far from who I really am.

Five years ago in 2011, I wrote a song called “Consensual Rape” that admittedly contains lyrics and a general sentiment of violence towards woman which I never meant to represent who I am but rather to depict a story. I approach my music as other types of artists approach their work, and I don’t always intend the stories that I tell, the characters that I play in them or the lyrics I lay down to be taken literally. The songs I make aren’t any different than a director creating a movie, or an author writing a book meaning they contain scenes or things happen in them that aren’t meant to be anything but an artistic expression- just a song, a book or a film. I’ve never performed “Consensual Rape” at a concert, and I don’t plan to.

Regardless, I understand that when it comes to musicians, and more specifically rappers, the lyrics I say are taken to heart many times as a representation of my beliefs or true feelings. SO please let me make this very clear: I think rape and acts of violence toward woman are DISGUSTING. I would never condone anything remotely close to that type of behavior, and it’s certainly not what I’m about at all. But, the song in question has caused people discomfort and pain and I’m sincerely sorry about it. It was not my intention to hurt people when I made it years ago, and I certainly will be much more sensitive on this matter moving ahead.

Similarly, there has been some attention placed on a insensitive Instagram post I made years ago regarding me inappropriately labelling someone as transexual and being disrespectful to them in a way that is not ok. I have sat with members of the LGBT community recently in an effort to understand how to avoid being hurtful and insensitive towards these issues moving forward. I have never had any issues with anyone’s sexual orientation or gender transitioning. I’m far, far from perfect and I recognize my flaws and I’m making an effort to grow and be a better human.

Thanks for reading this.

-Action Bronson

A separate group calling itself the GW Students for Common Sense has begun its own petition demanding Bronson be reinstated as a performer at Spring Fling. The group writes, “Don’t allow a vocal minority to ruin Spring Fling for the majority of students. By removing Action Bronson we are limiting free speech and free artistic expression.” As of press time, the “Reinstate Action Bronson” Change.org petition has over 600 signatures.

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