Drake Releases Statement Following Scarf Controversy

Drake drew ire this week when a video surfaced of him telling a concertgoer near the stage to remove her “scarf.”

“You got on that hot ass scarf right there, you might wanna take this off,” Drake told the woman. “You gotta turn this muthafucka up…you gotta come out of that shit."

Some fans believed the woman was wearing a hijab and not a winter scarf, though the since-deleted video of the interaction did not conclusively prove it was a hijab.

In lieu of the backlash, the Canadian rapper has released a statement clarifying his stance. He says it was not a hijab.

“I make a point every night to end my shows on a time of unity and love so, to find out that I am being utilized in a fake media story about me disrespecting Muslims is devastating to me,” Drake said. “At my show I'm the O2 in London I was talking to 4 women one of whom was wearing a jacket and a winter scarf, I made a comment about taking off the scarf because I enjoy a friendly banter with the fans. I am well aware of what a hijab is and I would never make a disrespectful comment like that in my life towards someone who is wearing one. I am proud that my closest friends and fans come from all different religions and races, perhaps whoever made up this story should spend more time learning about other cultures and less time trying to divide us.”

In other words, Drake says it’s all fake news.

The video was posted Feb. 2, and the show at O2 took place Jan. 30.