Kodak Black Apologizes Following Backlash Over His Comments About Nipsey Hussle’s Girlfriend
Kodak Black came under fire over the weekend, after sharing an Instagram Live in which he suggested he would give late rapper Nipsey Hussle’s girlfriend Lauren London “a whole year” before pursuing her romantically.
In a since-deleted Instagram Live broadcast, the 21-year-old rapper remarked, “Lauren London, that’s baby, though. She about to be out here single. I’ll be the best man I can be for her. I’ll give her a whole year. She might need a whole year to be crying and s— for him,” according to The Shade Room.
“I ain’t trying to shoot [my shot] at her. I’m saying, listen. She can do two, three years. I’ll try to be like the friend if you need to holla or a shoulder to lean on. She can call my line,” Black continued.
The rapper’s comments were immediately met with outrage from fans who found his remarks disrespectful to both London, who is grieving the loss of her longtime love, and Hussle, who was fatally shot last week.
Without immediately apologizing, Black addressed the backlash in another Instagram Live broadcast that is no longer available.
“Yeah, I say what I said. Hell, you expect her to be single forever? I said give her a year to breathe and cry. Hell yeah, she a bad bitch,” he shared in the video, according to TMZ. “Anyone of y’all, if she tried to holla at anybody, y’all ain’t finna be like, ‘No, I can’t do it because of Nipsey.’ ”
RELATED: Nipsey Hussle’s Grandmother Opens Up About How the Family First Found Out Rapper Had Been Shot
As outrage continued over the comments, many artists began speaking out against Black.
In a heated series of videos posted on his Instagram Story, rapper The Game told Black to stop “disrespecting” Hussle’s legacy.
“Keep his girl’s name out your f— mouth,” he said, adding, “This new generation, y’all f— up in the head.”
In a since-deleted video, rapper T.I. also slammed Black, telling him to “get your m— self together,” according to Complex.
Responding to T.I.’s comment in another Instagram Live broadcast, Black brushed them off, saying, “T.I., man, I don’t care,” according to The Shade Room.
Weighing in on the controversy, R&B singer Tank went on to encourage Black to apologize.
“Kodak Black, that’s not it bro. I promise you, that’s not it. You gotta listen to the guy next to you that’s saying too soon, and the other guy trying to keep you from saying that, period. You gotta get out of that,” he said in an Instagram video. “Get out in front of that, man. If you meant no disrespect, no harm, it’s easier to say that than play the tough guy. Fix that bro.”
Standing in solidarity with Hussle and London, Los Angeles radio station Power 106 announced on Saturday they would no longer be playing Black’s music on-air.
“We stand with the family of Nipsey Hussle and are appalled by the disrespectful and poor comments made by Kodak Black. With that, Power 106 will not support Kodak Black’s music. #LongLiveNip,” wrote Power 106 host Justin Credible.
RELATED: Nipsey Hussle’s Brother Reveals His Desperate Attempts to Save the Rapper After He Was Fatally Shot
Black went on to apologize for his comments, claiming that he “didn’t” disrespect her.
“If I disrespected you Lauren London, in any shape or form, I’m sorry. Even though I didn’t. And rest in peace to [Nipsey],” he said on Instagram Live, according to The Shade Room.
He also asked people not to “try and low blow me on the internet.”
“My bad, so don’t shoot,” he said. “If I disrespected Lauren London in any way even though I know I didn’t, my bad. My bad.”
Prior to Hussle’s death, the rapper and London had been together for five years. They also share 2½-year-old son Kross.
RELATED: Nipsey Hussle’s Longtime Love Lauren London Breaks Her Silence on His Death: ‘I Am Completely Lost’
Hussle, 33, died from gunshot wounds of both the head and torso, after being shot outside of his Los Angeles clothing store on March 31.
Eric Holder, 29, the man whom police believe shot the Grammy-nominated singer and activist has since been taken into custody and charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County’s District Attorney’s Office.
On Thursday, Holder entered a plea of not guilty in court. The aspiring rapper could face a maximum sentence of life in state prison if convicted.
Holder has hired attorney Chris Darden, who famously was part of the prosecution team in O.J. Simpson’s murder trial, according to CBS LA.
