Sports

LA Clippers racism scandal has hip-hop stars rightfully pissed off

by Mark Teo

April 28, 2014

While Avril Lavigne was criticized last week for her brand of soft-serve racism, LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling was more forthright about his bigotry. In a widely circulated video, Sterling makes deeply offensive comments to his girlfriend, berating her over taking photos with black NBA players. And from there, he explains his deeply problematic, divisive worldview; at one point, he point blank tells his girlfriend, “Don’t bring black people to my games.”

The outrage over the video, meanwhile, has overshadowed the NBA playoffs. President Obama weighed in, saying, “When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk.” The NAACP rescinded their offer to present Sterling with a lifetime achievement award. The Clippers themselves, during a warmup, removed their jerseys in silent protest. The Portland Trail Blazers wore black socks in solidarity.

Even The Wire‘s Michael K. Williams weighed in prior to the Brooklyn Nets-Toronto Raptors game, saying “there’s no room in the NBA for Donald Sterling.” That’s right. OMAR IS COMING.

This isn’t the first time Donald Sterling has been caught saying, or doing, something racist, but this latest addition to his ever-growing bad reputation is perhaps the most vilifying incident yet.

Of course, plenty of rappers were just as enraged—and some heavy hitters weighed in on the situation.

Lil Wayne

Weezy took to YouTube to post a simple message to Sterling: “Fuck you.” Then, “If I was a Clipper fan, I wouldn’t be one any more. It’s that simple.” Then, he suggests what many others have—that the players boycott the crest on the jersey. Preach, Birdman.

Snoop Dogg

Gangsta rap-turned-reggae star-turned funkmaster Snoop Dogg, for his part, also wasn’t ready to play nice. “You bitch-ass redneck white-bread chickenshit motherfucker,” he says. “Fuck you, your momma and everything connected to you.”

The Game

Compton rapper The Game, meanwhile, took to Instagram to write a thoughtful—and lengthy—response to Sterling. He called for an empty seat campaign to protest the Clippers.

“I have to say that after listening to the full audio clip of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racists comments towards (minorities) specifically African Americans & Hispanics, I am totally outraged & very upset !!! He also went on to say that because Magic Johnson was black he did not want Magic to attend any of the Los Angeles Clippers games,” he writes. “Myself being African American & having a huge Hispanic following… I find myself in a position to defend both my heritage & that of all of the Hispanic community, not only here but around the world… Whom, both are very supportive of not only the Los Angeles Clippers, but every professional sports franchise in Los Angeles & elsewhere specifically the Los Angeles Dodgers… Whose owner & opposing Los Angeles Lakers great “Earvin Magic Johnson” was both disrespected & racially profiled by the Clippers owner.

“Not sure on exact numbers but I’m pretty sure Hispanics alone make up at least 65% of ticket buyers for Los Angeles Clippers games as well as merchandising. With that said, it was not only ignorant & racist but a non-calculated & disgusting business move on Donald Sterlings part. In the support of my own race, Hispanics & every other race whose been fighting current & past racism I have now started the #ESC which is short for #EMPTYSEATCAMPAIN asking ALL Los Angeles residents to boycott the next Clippers game by not attending which will prove that we are more of a MAJORITY than the previously stated “minority” label given to us by Mr. Sterling.

“Although I feel for friends of mine that play for the Clippers franchise such as @CP3 whose own team owner considers a minority…… I now, along with good friend & designer @ceoselfmade ask everyone who reads this WORLDWIDE to RE-POST this picture & hashtag: #BoycottClippers #ESC #EmptySeatCampaign #Support #OGMagicJohnson #StopRacism #OneWorld #WeAreAMajority.”

Then, he posted this image.

Meek Mill

Meek Mill retweeted Snoop Dogg’s angry Instagram video, but he also noted that attitudes like Sterling’s are dangerous—not only because they’re hateful, but because they’re pervasive.

Q-Tip

Q-Tip recommended that the Clippers boycott the game, saying that a racist team shouldn’t walk on a court where Muhammad Ali once stood.

9th Wonder

Legendary produer (and now-Harvard instructor) 9th Wonder unleashed a tirade on Twitter condemning Sterling. Starting with the tweet below, he suggested that the players boycott Sunday’s game and retweeted the words “Ku Klux Clippers.”