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Fat Joe criticized for 'Wuhan virus' verse written during Covid-19 outbreak, fans are 'tired of cancel culture'

He responded to the statement by saying, 'I support and love all my Asian brothers and sisters never hate'

Fat Joe is doing some damage control after a recent backlash for a verse in 'Talkin' Back'. The 50-year-old Bronx rapper appeared as a guest on Benny The Butcher's latest EP 'The Plugs I Met 2' which released on March 19. The EP is a collaborative effort with Harry Fraud and offers nine tracks with various collaborators including Chinx, French Montana, Jim Jones, and Rick Hyde.

While the joint project has been garnering attention for Benny and Harry Fraud's chemistry, Fat Joe's guest verse on 'Talkin' Back' isn't getting much love as it is being seen as offensive to the Asian community, according to several reports.

Over a few bars, Fat Joe raps, "Threw that white up in the pot, gave ‘em pipe dreams. And watch it spread like the Wuhan Virus". Although the rapper has shared that he supports his "Asian brothers and sisters" with no hate, the questionable verse lacks political correctness and could be seen as promoting anti-Asian rhetoric.

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Furthermore, Fat Joe's verse comes amid the hate-driven shooting in Atlanta targeted at the city's Asian population that saw six Asian women out of eight victims murdered. President Biden recently spoke of the tragedy and addressed the fears that the shooting was racially motivated, saying, "I know Asian-Americans are very concerned. Because as you know I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian-Americans for the last couple months, and I think it’s very, very troubling," according to The New York Times.

The time of the release of 'Talkin' Back' coupled with the unease following the shooting and Fat Joe's verse could be interpreted as insensitive. Nevertheless, the rapper noticed that fans and listeners are upset and took to his social media on March 21 to address the controversy. In a message on Twitter, Fat Joe claims that the verse was recorded over a year ago when the media and publications were problematically calling the coronavirus the "Wuhan Virus."

"I’ll address the Benny verse i did that verse a year ago when the news was calling it the wuhan virus before they called it COVID,” Fat Joe tweeted, adding, "I support and love all my Asian brothers and sisters never hate."

It was also around the time that Trump proposed the term "Chinese virus" in March 2020 and the world was trying to understand the origins of COVID-19. The "Wuhan Virus" term wasn't realized as harmful until months later as it still clubs innocent Asians who had nothing to do with the origins or spread of the virus together with the actual culprits and this can result in unfair treatment or racially motivated offenses.

'Much respect for stepping up early'

Meanwhile, since his explanation, fans are supporting the rapper. "Much respect for stepping up early and being accountable and showing love to the Asian community," said a fan, while another wrote, "Wuhan Virus is NOT racist. Ebola Virus and West Nile Virus were named after the African Rivers in which the viruses originated. Limes Disease, West Limes CT Zika Virus, Zika River in Congo Spanish Flu MERS, Middle Eastern Respiratory Sickness."

One fan wrote, "Man Joe ain't none of us (Fans) take it wrong. Well I didn't. So come out of retirement PLEASE! Cause the vers is!! Fire EVERYONE should know Fat Joe doesn't and wouldn't hate on a whole race!"

"Boy that verse was hard it need no explanation," shared a fan. "Look what they did to Hip-Hop smh Tired of Cancel Culture," added another fan.

Do you think that Fat Joe's explanation makes sense? Leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.