Music

Rapper B.o.B. thinks the Earth is flat

by Jeremy Mersereau

Joining an ages-old brain trust that includes Tila Tequila, Thomas Dolby, and second-century Chinese astronomer Zhang Heng, Atlanta rapper B.o.B has declared his belief that the Earth is flat.

Here’s a quick sampling of his rationales:

Answer: The field of vision isn’t wide enough to see it (you need at least 60 degrees) plus you’re not high enough.

Not true, but you do need to be fairly high (10,600 metres should be good).

Notice how, speaking generally, the shape doesn’t change all that much. Come on NASA, make up your mind and don’t slightly alter your views over a period of four decades, with all the attendant scientific advancements.

You need a wider field of vision.

Good job, guys.

While having a mega-hit like “Airplanes” and then deflating back down into a more negligible level of cultural relevance would understandably drive anyone a little wonky, B.o.B. legitimizing this kind of nonsense to his 2.3 million Twitter followers is a little worrying. At least superstar astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson weighed in with some scientific facts.

The modern Flat Earth movement can be traced back to English inventor/writer/biblical literalist Samuel Rowbotham, who wrote a 16-page pamphlet called Zetetic Astronomy: Earth Not a Globe in 1849 which he later expanded to a full book in 1881. Fun fact: Rowbotham began his career as a lecturer after being run out of a commune for alleged sexual misconduct and married the 16-year old daughter of his laundress. Yes, we’re in ad hominem territory, but eh.

Flat Eartherism isn’t the only conspiracy theory B.o.B. subscribes to: his Twitter is also full of posts about conspiracy theories as wide-ranging as false flag shooters:

And the easily-explained, human memory-is-very-faulty Mandela Effect:

To the end of the female gender for some reason:

To sum up:

We’re looking forward to the B.o.B/Thomas Dolby duet on the next mixtape. Until then: