Rapper A$AP Rocky Apologizes for Behavior at VMAs

Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 4 MIN.

Yes, the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards is still a source of controversy - and no, this time it has nothing to do with Miley Cyrus.

During this year's VMAs, Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky looked visibly uncomfortable when standing next to NBA player Jason Collins (the first active male professional athlete in a major team sport to come out publicly as gay), who introduced Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' performance of their same-sex marriage hit "Same Love."

While Collins gave a speech about coming out and marriage equality, Rocky looked uncomfortable, laughed, then awkwardly segued into a plug for A$AP Ferg's new album and pointed at the athlete while using the word "homosexual."

After some perceived his behavior to be anti-gay, Rocky is now apologizing for his actions and says he regrets his behavior during the award show.

"I'm mad that my facial expressions was like that because I'm not homophobic at all, and that whole thing just came off real homophobic," Rocky said in an interview with Stashed. "I didn't really notice it until I got home and saw it. I apologize to Jason for that, because people was laughing and shit, and you know... I really don't think that's funny. I saw they were making all the memes and pictures and making fun of him.

"There's people out there that think I was doing that to be funny, and truthfully I got gay people in my family," he continued. "I don't give a fuck if you gay or you not, I just found it odd that MTV wanted to stand me next to this nigga when they are talking about gay people, that's all. You know what I'm saying?"

In 2011, Rocky admitted in an interview with Pitchfork that he used to be anti-gay but says he now feels differently when it comes to the LGBT community.

"I'm going to be honest with you-- I used to be homophobic, but that's fucked up," the musician said. "I had to look in the mirror and say, 'All the designers I'm wearing are gay.' I hear stories about all these industry motherfuckers who are gay, and I don't know if it's true or not, but that shit don't matter. It's so immature.

"The days of sexual preference are over-- if you're gay, that's your business. That doesn't stop you from being my brother. If you're yellow, you're still my brother. Let's smoke some weed," he added.
Rock also discussed homosexuality with AOL's music website, Spinner.

"I don't give a f--- about your business," he said. "Man, if you're gay we can be friends. If you're straight, we can be friends. I'm not gay, I don't plan on being gay, I don't condone it and I'm not sayin' I'm against it. I really don't give a f--- and I don't think anyone should care about what another man's preference is... unless he's interested, if you know what I'm sayin'."

After Macklemore performed "Same Love," a song promoting marriage equality that peaked at No. 11 on Billboard, out rapper and producer Le1f sounded off on Macklemore and the song.

"do proceeds go to any gay people? the HRC? Aids foundation? or does this straight white man keep the money?" Le1f tweeted. "I'm gonna write a song about disabled people, or about the aboriginal struggle. cuz mama needs a new fur coat. oh wait, that's evil."


by Jason St. Amand , National News Editor

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