Questlove Apologizes For Racist Jokes & Compares His Actions To 'Duck Dynasty' Phil Robertson's Anti-Gay Remarks
Questlove took to Facebook to apologize for posting a series of Instagram posts many deemed offensive to Japanese people.
"Unfortunately, i've offended my asian brothers & sisters with an IG post which i made during my recent tour of japan. in that post, i likened a japanese department store employee's vocal intonation to that of a (church) deacon speaking in tongues. clearly, i didn't intend to offend anyone (asian or otherwise). clearly, i *thought* that comparison was funny-cute," he wrote. "And clearly i thought wrong."
During his trip to the Asian country this past week, the 42-year-old posted photos along with comments that many considered insensitive to the culture.
"Hey @dawnenglehart is it racist for me to write the Sour Tlain? #chipanesedownunder2013," Questlove wrote under one photo while on tour with The Roots.
He later posted another of a local woman and said she was speaking "in tongues." Both posts were later deleted.
Questlove, whose real name is Ahmir Khalib Thompson, called his actions "dumb" in the Facebook apology and admitted he should've been "way more sensitive."
"I'm a human being and dumber yet, i'm a public figure. if you're lucky enough to be either of the aforementioned, then not only should one stay clear of saying or writing hurtful things, one should actively work against feeling comfortable, thinking hurtful thoughts," he added.
He also compared his actions to Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson, who was suspended from the popular A&E show over anti-gay remarks he made in a recent GQ profile. However, Questlove made it clear that his own words weren't "mean spirited-xenophobic dumb" like Robertson's.
