Chance The Rapper Apologizes And Clarifies His Comments About Black Democrats, Kanye, And Trump

When Kanye West started tweeting about his admiration of Donald Trump, it rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, like Questlove and some of his closest friends and collaborators. It seemed like he got some support from Chance The Rapper, though, who tweeted, “Black people don’t have to be democrats.”

That tweet led Trump to believe that he had a supporter in Chance, as the president tweeted this morning, “Kanye West has performed a great service to the Black Community – Big things are happening and eyes are being opened for the first time in Decades – Legacy Stuff! Thank you also to Chance and Dr. Darrell Scott, they really get it (lowest Black & Hispanic unemployment in history).”

It was that tweet that led Chance to clarify his comments, first by replying to Trump’s tweet, “Nah that ain’t it yo,” and then by sharing a longer explanation about the intent of his message. In a lengthy letter, shared as a series of phone screenshots, Chance wrote, “I’d never support anyone who has made a career out of hatred, racism, and discrimination. I’d never support someone who’d talk about Chicago as if it’s hell on earth and then take steps to make life harder here for the most disenfranchised among us.”

He also apologized for his comments, saying that they were about “the fact that Chicago has had generations of democratic officials with no investment or regard for black schools, neighborhoods, or black lives,” while admitting that he “said that shit at the wrongest time.” In regards to Kanye, Chance called him “family” and said that if he’s among those who are giving people responsible for bad things “a pass,” then “it’s not my job to defend or protect him. It’s my job to pick up the phone and talk to him about it.”

Read Chance’s full statement below.

“Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about my city and my loved ones. Kanye West is not just a mentor or a big homie to me. He’s my family. No matter how much I may disagree with him, it’s hard for me to watch people talk about someone I love — even if there were justified in doing so. I didn’t speak up because I agree with what Kanye had to saw or ’cause I f-ck with Trump, I did it because I wanted to help my friend and ’cause I felt like I was being used to attack him. Unfortunately, my attempt to support Kanye is being used to discredit my brothers and sisters in the movement and I can’t sit by and let that happen either.

I’d never support anyone who has made a career out of hatred, racism, and discrimination. I’d never support someone who’d talk about Chicago as if it’s hell on earth and then take steps to make life harder here for the most disenfranchised among us. I understand why people are disappointed with my words, but I was raised to believe actions speak louder than words. So let me apology be seen in my future works, and let me make up for my poorly timed comments with immediate action and advocacy for those who need it most.

My statement about black folk not having to be democrats (though true) was a deflection from the real conversation and stemmed from a personal issue with the fact that Chicago has had generations of democratic officials with no investment or regard for black schools, neighborhoods, or black lives. But again, said that shit at the wrongest time.

We have to talk honestly about what is happening and has been happening in this country and we have to challenge those who are responsible, as well as those who are giving them a pass. If that happens to include someone I love, someone who is my brother-in-Christ and someone who I believe does really want to do what is right, it’s not my job to defend or protect him. It’s my job to pick up the phone and talk to him about it.”