UPDATED 4:15 p.m. ET: When reached for comment, a media relations rep for Harvard wrote back: "As previously announced, Angela Merkel will be Harvard’s Commencement 2019 speaker."
See below for original story.
Lil Pump's ongoing Harverd Dropout promo campaign has either just announced one hell of a surprise that seemingly somehow involves Angela Merkel, or we are all being fucked with in an admittedly very-on-brand publicity troll.
On Monday, Warner Bros. sent out a press release claiming that Pump—who's engaged in university-related trollings in the past—would be delivering the 2019 commencement speech at Harvard University. Merkel, however, was announced in December as the commencement speaker for the afternoon portion of the prestigious university's 368th ceremony, which is set for May 30 at the Tercentenary Theatre.
"You don't gotta graduate from Harvard to do this speech," Pump said in the press release. "I dropped out, so they called me like they called the guy that made Windows and PCs and shit before I was born. You just need a cap and gown, which I got. When I found out, I was happy to give everyone a lesson. I'm all about the youth. Yes, they are the future. This is a preview of my speech, one word: ESSKEETIT!!!!!!"
Furthermore, the label says Harvard officials "handpicked" Pump to become the "youngest commencement speaker in history." In the press release, WHRB Harvard Radio is said to have officially announced Pump's participation.
Complex has reached out to a program director at WHRB, Harvard's media team, and Pump's reps for comment/clarity/anything at all.
For Harverd Dropout, originally expected at some point in 2018, Pump capitalized on his "I Love It" Billboard success with an assortment of producers and collaborators including Diablo, CBMix, DJ Clark Kent, Lil Wayne, Lil Uzi Vert, and more. In an interview with Complex, Diablo—who ultimately produced three cuts on the album—pointed to the chemistry he and Pump have developed after working together for so long, as integral to assembling the best possible final tracklist.
"It's really easy at this point 'cause I know exactly what he wants," he said.
Also on Monday, we learned that a disorderly conduct charge against Pump in connection with his 2018 Miami arrest has been dropped following the publication of excerpted body cam footage.
