Music

Justin Trudeau declares 'there's a lot of misogyny in certain types of music'

by Dan MacRae

September 22, 2015

Things went from zero to kinda racist in a hurry.

It’s election season and that means federal party leaders are bound for fuck-ups galore. Say hello to the latest one.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was at the Up For Debate event in Toronto that placed a spotlight on women’s issues. When posed with a question about young men abusing women, Trudeau gave a response that sounded like coded racism.

“I don’t know where exactly to point my finger. I think there’s an awful lot of factors that come together to shape societal behaviours whether it’s certain types of music,” he said. “There is a lot of misogyny in certain types of music.”

“Certain types,” eh? Trudeau didn’t get into specifics on which “types” of music the politician was referring to and his additional comment on “shifting parental roles” also raised some eyebrows.

Trudeau’s response was greeted this morning with Toronto Star columnist Desmond Cole calling out the Prime Ministerial hopeful’s comments and phrasing.

First Trudeau said a factor was "certain types of music -- there's a lot of misogyny in certain types of music." He did not say which types.
— Negro Frolics (@DesmondCole) September 22, 2015

Trudeau also mentioned "shifting parental roles. There's a lot of communities in which fathers are less present." Again, he wasn't specific
— Negro Frolics (@DesmondCole) September 22, 2015

Is it a coincidence that two of the three factors Trudeau cited about violence against women are well-worn stereotypes about black people?
— Negro Frolics (@DesmondCole) September 22, 2015

If there are specific communities where hateful music and absent fathers cause violence against women, why wouldn't Trudeau name them?
— Negro Frolics (@DesmondCole) September 22, 2015

Violence against women touches all people in Canada. Why did Trudeau narrow it down to certain groups of people, but not say who they are?
— Negro Frolics (@DesmondCole) September 22, 2015

Perhaps Trudeau figured he did not have to name the communities with the violent music and absent fathers, since we all know who he means?
— Negro Frolics (@DesmondCole) September 22, 2015

Some of you will say that Justin Trudeau is not racist. The point is that his responses were a very careless nod to anti-black stereotypes.
— Negro Frolics (@DesmondCole) September 22, 2015

A spokesperson for Trudeau has stated that the Liberal leader’s comments were not about a “particular” community.

Tags: Music, Cancon, News, justin trudeau