RELATED: Dear John Mayer – Imitation Doesn’t Equal Respect
_________
Story HERE
John Mayer has apologized for using a racial slur — the “N word” — in his controversial Playboy interview.
Via three 140-character Tweets, Mayer writes:
“Re: using the ‘N word’ in an interview: I am sorry that I used the word. And it’s such a shame that I did because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit of the word itself.
“It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using it, because I realize that there’s no intellectualizing a word that is so emotionally charged.”
In his Playboy talk, Mayer said “black people love me” and that he had a “n***** pass.” His full quote (in which he discusses whether he’s a “douche bag”) from the Q&A is below:
“MAYER: My two biggest hits are ‘Your Body Is a Wonderland’ and ‘Daughters.’ If you think those songs are pandering, then you’ll think I’m a douche bag. It’s like I come on very strong. I am a very…I’m just very. V-E-R-Y. And if you can’t handle very, then I’m a douche bag. But I think the world needs a little very. That’s why black people love me.
PLAYBOY: Because you’re very?
MAYER: Someone asked me the other day, ‘What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?’ And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a n***** pass.”
About a half an hour later on Twitter, Mayer added to his apology: “I think it’s time to stop trying to be so raw in interviews…it’s gotten out of hand and I’ve created somewhat of a monster. I wanted to be a blues guitar player. And a singer. And a songwriter. Not a shock jock. I don’t have the stomach for it. Again, because I don’t want anyone to think I’m equivocating: I should have never said the word and I will never say it again.”
RELATED: Dear John Mayer – Imitation Doesn’t Equal Respect
[Stay tuned…the new mrmokelly.com website is coming to you in 2010. Set your browsers now.]
15 responses to “John Mayer Says He Has a ‘N***** Pass’”
WOW….
John Mayer IS a douchebag. He does, however, make Kanye a HELL of a lot better by comparison. Perhaps they should do a duet. LOL
SLOW DOWN!
Slow it right down.
Now, go read the interview linked by Morris. Now try to understand what Mayer was saying.
Let me take a second swipe at it.
Mayer was saying this, and I am going to use the actual word because not to do so would be convoluted:
"If I REALLY had what YOU MEAN by a HOOD PASS, I could walk into the hood and say "What's up, my nigga!" If I REALLY had a hood pass, I could use that word the same way a black person would. In other words, no, I do not have a hood pass."
I wish Mayer hadn't even apologized. Because, while I studiously avoid using the "N" word casually or thoughtlessly, I can see where it might need to be used to make a specific point.
Mayer got caught by people, including Morris, who missed his context or decided that context does not care.
Here come the thought police, led by their vanguard, Morris.
Or maybe Morris just likes easy setups.
s/b "or decided that context does not matter."
The title is misleading, by the way. Mayer was specifically saying that he does not have any such pass.
That's the crux of the problem: This rush to misunderstand the man.
Walt,
The only person who used "N*****" and pass in the same sentence was Mayer. He went out there on his own to CHANGE "hood" to "N*****" in his attempt to highlight some supposed contradiction.
HE was the one who said "Black people love me"…(read: has a "hood" pass).
I'm in no way twisting his words. He was the one who wanted to "clarify" that it "should" not be a hood pass BUT a "N*****" pass.
HIS words.
Walt, I'll fight you tooth and nail on this one. I'm spot on on this one. Such arrogance to think that he could even go there without a landslide of negativity proves two things. His arrogance and ignorance.
Walt, while I recognize and applaud your effort to stand up for your douchebag brethren, I do need you to subdue your passions for one moment. You keep saying that it is alright for white people to use the “N” word “to make a point,” but here’s the thing: Mayer didn’t make a point. Neither did you. While Mayer comes off as deluded, self-indulgent, arrogant and ignorant, you come off as just self-indulgent, pompous, and equally arrogant. Your empty yammering here on Mo’s site is helping no one.
Walt,
I won't get in between you and Moi…you're both adults. But I will say this dovetails nicely on our freedom of speech discussion. He's free to say what he wants…that's the only thing which the first amendment guarantees. It doesn't mean he's free to say what he wants without social consequences. We are free to criticize him for it and no longer support him as a musician.
The only thing I would have recommended to you specifically Walt is I believe you jumped out there too soon on this one. Discretion would have been the better part of valor. I think again you're being contrarian here. Some things are indefensible.
Parallel: I would NEVER allege to have a "Kike Pass" or theorized on whether it should be called a "Jew Pass" or "Kike Pass"…and I would hope any member of the Jewish community would check me accordingly if I ever said something so ridiculously stupid either publicly or privately.
Morris,
Bottom line, you blew it. And the longer you go failing to admit you blew it, the more others will feel free to jump on the bandwagon.
"Editorial rights" the only way to safeguard a "John Mayer"
Ok if John was wrong for saying the "N" word then every african american should be very mad at every young black man that uses the same word in all the songs and lyric's they write. Even on TV black men and black women use the word loosely but let one white man use the word and all hell cuts loose. If the blacks can use it then they should keep their mouth's shut when any one else uses it too. It's call equal rights!
Rosey, thanks for reading and responding. First, I always assail ANYONE who uses the word, so for you to make that comment here smacks of having zero knowledge of where you're commenting. And secondly, the term "equal rights" has to do with laws, not perception of social behavior. So no, it's NOT called equal rights. The phrase you're vainly reaching for is "double standard." When it comes to The Mo'Kelly Report, there is no double standard as to its use. I'm unequivocal.
Nas is a Comedian, Not an Intellectual http://mokellyreport.blogspot.com/2007/10/nas-is-…
Bring Dog the Bounty Hunter Back http://mokellyreport.blogspot.com/2007/11/bring-d…
Your point about Black men using the word loosely on TV…uh where? Show me where on TV you can use the word loosely. I can respect your point but I can't respect its inaccuries in its expression. For now I'll let the "they" remark pass. But if you do it again, I'll really undress your misguided thoughts.
Have a nice day.
Come on… We get upset everytime the word is used, if we feel that someone has stepped on the feet of the black community. Our sensitivity has gotten so out of hand that no one even cares anymore about the black community getting angry. If citizens within the "African-American" community use the word everytime you turn around then I believe we should be fully desensitized to it by now. It should be considered an ugly word regardless to who uses it! I am so tired of my people justifying it by saying -er on the end is different than -a on the end. Guess what there is no difference! The word should be extinct, because slavery is extinct. If the word means nothing and has no significance then we as a community should excuse it either completely or not at all, even if it is uttered from the lips of one of our own. I do not allow anyone to say the word in my household PERIOD! It is not necessary for us to fall into that mentality over and over again. We have so many other things to fight over and for as a nation. Why do we have to keep coming back to same ol' same ol'?
[…] What’s the basis of all of this? John Mayer and Morris O’Kelly. […]