After Reebok dropped Rick Ross and criticized his prior apology saying: “We are very disappointed he has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue or an appropriate level of remorse,” the rapper has come forth with another, more profound statement of regret.
He released the below to the press today:
“Before I am an artist, I am a father, a son, and a brother to some of the most cherished women in the world. So for me to suggest in any way that harm and violation be brought to a woman is one of my biggest mistakes and regrets. As an artist, one of the most liberating things is being able to paint pictures with my words. But with that comes a great responsibility. And most recently, my choice of words was not only offensive, it does not reflect my true heart. And for this, I apologize. To every woman that has felt the sting of abuse, I apologize. I recognize that as an artist I have a voice and with that, the power of influence. To the young men who listen to my music, please know that using a substance to rob a woman of her right to make a choice is not only a crime, it’s wrong and I do not encourage it. To my fans, I also apologize if I have disappointed you. I can only hope that this sparks a healthy dialogue and that I can contribute to it.”
—William Roberts (a.k.a “Rick Ross”)
For the first time since the incident, Rick Ross has taken ownership for the fact that he suggested that a woman be raped. His last two apologies harped on the fact that he didn’t use the actual word “rape,” which misses the point altogether. He also acknowledges the responsibility that comes with being a rapper. Ross maintains that his words do not reflect his true opinion on rape and humbly apologizes for disappointing his fans.
He also tweeted this statement about his work with Reebok:
