Rapper Rick Ross Accused Of 'Glorifying Rape', Petitioned To Apologize
MIAMI (RADIO.COM) – Rick Ross has faced his share of controversy (most notable: his stint as a prison guard versus whether or not he actually dealt drugs), but the Florida rapper might have found his biggest match yet: his own lyrical content.
Recent petitions posted to Change.org are calling making demands based on the lyrics petition organizers deem see as reckless. Radio stations are being called on to remove the record, while the offended parties look to Ross for a public apology.
The 37-year-old, behind such hits as "Hustlin" and "The Boss," appears, along with Future, on Atlanta rapper Rocko's song "U.O.E.N.O." In the song, Ross brags about drugging a woman with a molly (ecstasy pill) and later having sex with her.
"Put molly in her champagne / She ain't even know it / I took her home and I enjoyed that / She ain't even know it," Ross raps.
According to the petition, the lyrics are an implication of a crime. Organizers claim that "he has just publicly admitted to drugging and raping a woman. This should be investigated further and he should be prosecuted. If it is not true and they are just lyrics, he has still just glorified rape and this should not be ignored."
The petition goes on to highlight recent cases such as the high school student rape trial in Steubenville, Ohio, stating that the "dominant rape culture today has come from people ignoring and even glorifying statements like this because the song sounds good in the club."
A letter posted on the petition's page acknowledges his right to say the lyrics, but says exercising his first amendment right makes them no less destructive.
"We respect your freedom of expression, but at the same time we are exercising our freedom of speech in expressing our disappointment at your choice of lyrics," the letter reads."You are influential. People will listen to your songs and try to live how you live. Yes, even adults are impressionable. Please denounce this blatant promotion of drugging and rape. It has happened too often and to too many people, even people we know to be seen as acceptable."
No response has come from the Ross camp, with the rapper going about business as usual on his Twitter account, @rickyrozay.
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