The buzz hasn't stopped circulating around Tyler, The Creator, and not all of it is positive. Personally, after listening to and reviewing Goblin, I was waiting for the backlash of so many inflammatory, racist and prejudiced comments littered throughout the album. Well, here it is, and it's in the form of an open letter from Tegan and Sara, who are extremely offended by the homophobic comments prevalent in Tyler's latest album. You can read their entire letter below, which Tyler responded to in a tweet with, "If Tegan And Sara Need Some Hard Dick, Hit Me Up!" A lot of people didn't take kindly to his response and have started a Twitter campaign against his retort.
When will misogynistic and homophobic ranting and raving result in meaningful repercussions in the entertainment industry? When will they be treated with the same seriousness as racist and anti-Semitic offenses? While an artist who can barely get a sentence fragment out without using homophobic slurs is celebrated on the cover of every magazine, blog and newspaper, I’m disheartened that any self-respecting human being could stand in support with a message so vile.
As journalists and colleagues defend, excuse and congratulate ‘Tyler, the Creator,’ I find it impossible not to comment. In any other industry would I be expected to tolerate, overlook and find deeper meaning in this kid’s sickening rhetoric? Why should I care about this music or its “brilliance” when the message is so repulsive and irresponsible? There is much that upsets me in this world, and this certainly isn’t the first time I’ve drafted an open letter or complaint, but in the past I’ve found an opinion – some like-minded commentary – that let me rest assured that my outrage, my voice, had been accounted for. Not this time.
If any of the bands whose records are held in similar esteem as Goblin had lyrics littered with rape fantasies and slurs, would they be labeled hate mongers? I realize I could ask that question of DOZENS of other artists, but is Tyler exempt because people are afraid of the backlash? The inevitable claim that detractors are being racist, or the brush-off that not “getting it” would indicate that you’re “old” (or a faggot)? Because, the more I think about it, the more I think people don’t actually want to go up against this particular bully because he’s popular. Who sticks up for women and gay people now? It seems entirely uncool to do so in the indie rock world, and I’ll argue that point with ANYONE.
No genre is without its controversial and offensive characters- I’m not naive. I’ve asked myself a thousand times why this is pushing me over the edge. Maybe it’s the access to him (his grotesque twitter, etc). Maybe it’s because I’m a human being, both a girl and a lesbian. Maybe it’s because my mom has spent her whole adult life working with teenage girls who were victims of sexual assault. Maybe it’s because in this case I don’t think race or class actually has anything to do with his hateful message but has EVERYTHING to do with why everyone refuses to admonish him for that message.
It is not without great hesitation and hand wringing that I enter into the discourse about Tyler, the media who glorifies and excuses misogyny and homophobia, and the community of artists that doesn’t seem remotely bothered by it. I can only hope that someone reading this might be inspired to speak out. At the very least, I will know that my voice is on record.
In other Odd Future news, The New Yorker published an 8,000-word article on Earl Sweatshirt, seeking his point-of-view on the "Free Earl!" campaign. The article has revealed that Earl is not in captivity and not totally unhappy with his situation at a boarding school in Samoa. He is, however, unhappy with how people have been responding to "Free Earl" and twisting it into "Fuck Earl's Mom." You can read parts of the interview on The New Yorker's News Desk, or purchase the magazine in hard copy or with an online subscription. The best take-away you can receive from Earl's words is to stop "Free Earl," out of respect for him and his mother.