Diddy Facing Backlash for ‘Uncanceling’ Travis Scott and Morgan Wallen at the Billboard Music Awards
During tonight’s Billboard Music Awards, the host for the first time Diddy made it clear that the TV show was more of his production than anyone else’s, dropped the N in his opening monologue, advertised Ciroc, and presented his own REVOLT Black Excellence Award.
He also decided to use his powers as host and executive producer to officially “cancel” some of the night’s more controversial performers—namely the rapper. Travis Scott and country singers Morgan Wallen.
“We’re canceling the cancellation,” Diddy said about an hour and a half after the show. “[Brother] Love doesn’t kick like that. I looked at Morgan’s situation. I took a look at Travis’s situation. And I said, man, I have some strength to do something about that because we can’t start that in the music industry or even in life, period. So I am here to forgive, to unite, to celebrate and to set everyone free. “
Scott has notably gone unnoticed since deadly crowds flocked to his annual Astroworld Festival last year leaving 10 dead. Fans have since accused the Houston rapper of responsibility in the tragedy, and he is currently facing several civil lawsuits from the victim’s family.
On the other hand, Wallen faced scrutiny and industry-wide backlash after a video showing him calling a man the N-word was leaked in February 2021. Following the incident, some The streaming platform has temporarily removed him from playlists and stopped promoting his music. He was also suspended from Big Loud record label before quietly recovering for several months following the leak. Despite the controversy, and Wallen is clear short regret, Wallen’s album sales continued to skyrocket. And he has been nominated for several industry awards since then.
While it looked like Diddy’s hilarious host antics went smoothly at the start of the ceremony, his needless attempt to whitewash both Scott and Wallen – but especially Wallen – didn’t work out. on Twitter.
“Diddy ‘canceled’ Morgan Wallen and let him perform at the show while giving Tamika Mallory an award for her dedication to meaningless activism,” speak one user.
“It took almost two decades in Hollywood for Janet’s incident at the Superbowl to happen,” Written again. “They still rate Britney Spears for who she is, but P. Diddy asked us to forgive Travis Scott after he caused a tragedy on his show, Morgan Wallen. after he used the word n. Are you crazy?”
“A man yt walked into a supermarket to kill a black man with an n*gger on a rifle,” Written another, “while Diddy just ‘unspelled’ Morgan Wallen, who had the same word in his mouth… it’s getting weird.”
Finally, the most confusing part of endorsement is how unnecessary it is. Aside from the initial backlash to their scandal, there hasn’t been a significant drop in Scott and Wallen’s public approval ratings — Scott returns to Instagram with plenty of love in his mentions and Wallen actually received a slap on the wrist for his racist behavior. In interviews, Diddy has long promoted the principles of unconditional love, forgiveness, and positivity, like most celebrities whose wealth protects them from overthinking. sure about things that don’t directly affect them. While he can blame the artists’ appearances on NBC, Billboard, or their uncharacteristically unpopular fanbases, he must publicly declare his defense of the two musicians because it also ultimately protect rich people like him.
