Killer Mike Apologizes for Controversial NRA Interview

"I love and respect you and commend you for your work. Keep marching for our lives."

killer mike getty ian gavan
Getty

Image via Getty/Ian Gavan

killer mike getty ian gavan

Run The Jewels rapper Killer Mike has apologized for an interview he did with the NRA, in which he took a firm stance in defense of gun ownership and admitted that he discouraged his children from participating in gun control-focused school walkouts earlier this month.

After initially defending his participation in the interview, Killer Mike uploaded two apology videos to Twitter on Sunday afternoon with the caption: "I hope this clears some stuff up. Love and Respect to all." 

He explained that he sat down with people who he "might not normally agree with" when he did the interview, and he wasn't pleased to see it used by the NRA to discredit a movement that he actually supports: the March For Our Lives protests.

"I did an interview about black gun ownership in this era," he said. "That interview was used a week later by NRA TV to disparage a very noble campaign that I actually support." Killer Mike continued. "I'm sorry that an interview I did about a minority—black people in this country—and gun rights was used as a weapon against you guys. That was unfair to you, and it was wrong, and it disparaged some very noble work you're doing."

"As your ally, I want to say that many of the people I organize with were at that march," he added. "I'm a friend and an advocate to you all. To the young people, especially, who are self-motivated and self-organized, I am an ally and an advocate for you always."

In a second video, Killer Mike explained that NRA video wasn't supposed to be about the March For Our Lives protests when he agreed to do it: "My interview with [the NRA] was supposed to be something that continued the conversation or that helped the conversation happen that I felt needed to happen. And that conversation is about African American gun ownership." He continued, "It should never have been used in contrast to your march, and I think it's wrong. To the young people who worked tirelessly to organize, I'm sorry adults chose to do this. I'm sorry NRA TV did that."

The 42-year-old rapper received much of the backlash for telling the NRA, "I told my kids on the school walkout, 'I love you, [but] if you walk out that school, walk out my house.'"

Making it clear that he supports the Parkland students who organized the marches, as well as everyone else who participated, Killer Mike addressed the participants of the marches directly as he finished his apology: "We're willing to follow your lead. Lead the way. I do support the march. And I support black people owning guns. It's possible to do both. I wanted to make sure that my words were heard. I wanted to make sure I was clear with what I was saying. And I wanted to make sure that you knew what I did had nothing to do with disparaging you. I love and respect you all. I love and respect you and commend you for your work. Keep marching for our lives. Keep pushing on."

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