I was going to avoid posting about this as I avoid most matters to do with race, as it has the nasty habit of drawing out the racists. But I did want to post some follow up to the main link on today’s link post and give a little follow up on the whole John Mayer racial slur scandal. In a new interview with Playboy magazine, of which the more tame parts I posted about, John Mayer wandered into murky territory. He did two things. One, was talking about his race-based dating habits (which, frankly no one gives a shit about). Two, he used the N-word during the interview for no other reason than he got too damn comfortable in that moment.
I just wanted to provide the links to the interview (see second response in the quoted section), and then give some context to the commentary going on with urban blogs. He did use the N-word for no intelligible reason that I can fathom. He then got a bunch of angry messages on Twitter letting him know that was not cool. He has been, to his credit, very quick to say sorry for being a douche. And, should anyone be curious, no-I don’t think he’s racist. But that is a very, very dangerous and racially-charged word and he/ others have no business using it.
Sometimes, it really needs to be said, one wonders if things like these are uttered just for the sake of publicity.
Honestly, from what I have seen of this man on tv he strikes me as a very engaging and intellectual type and not the type that would leave the brain parked in neutral during an interview.
I think he may have done it for attention. Backfired – people have an even lower opinion now. It was already pretty low to start with. A couple of urban bloggers talking about him – saying they won’t ever buy/ blog about him again.
Interesting. John was asked “Do black women throw themselves at you?” and he answered the question and brought up what races he tends to date in his answer.
John has a blues band (with black people) and he’s always been friends with black celebs. This was a major setback and will probably stay with him forever.
As ‘Rain’ said, Mayer is extremely intelligent. It’s amazing that we can all say things that are completely ridiculous when we’re trying to express ourselves. :0
Yeah, I know. Hmmm. He’s all kinds of comfortable and that annoys me. Ugh.
John was expressing himself, but he knows better than to use that word. I’m not all worked up. I just don’t buy that it slipped out. Lols @ him being drunk for the interview though.
I can’t even imagine how many career suicides I would commit if I were famous and giving interviews. I give TMI on the daily.
Maybe John thought the interviewer would edit that out? I know I’ve always edited out things that would sound horrible in print when I’ve interviewed celebrities.
I feel like John had this coming though cause he is EXTREMELY cocky about his talent with words. He’s a genius, he really is, but he needs the backlash so his head can get deflated a bit. Karma.