Rick Ross was the subject of a drawn-out controversy recently, due to some very offensive lyrics. As the outrage grew and grew, former fans and long-time haters alike demanded that Reebok, which hired Ross as a spokesperson before the lyrics came out on "U.O.E.N.O.," drop him from the brand. And now, they've done just that.
Part of the ridiculousness of the situation comes from the fact that Ross did not even try to understand where his critics were coming from, and issued something that was less like an apology and more like a slap in the face (he called it a misinterpretation, but the meaning feels pretty clear). Reebok issued the following statement: "While we do not believe that Rick Ross condones sexual assault, we are very disappointed he has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue or an appropriate level of remorse."
Hopefully, Rick Ross will take this as a learning experience, and try to do more positive things with his lyrics in the future. Either way, we're glad such an important brand is taking a stand against this kind of language. As the saying goes, money talks. (Vulture)
Photo: Courtesy of Reebok.