(AllHipHop News) Public anger and controversy surrounding Rick Ross’ rape lyrics continues to mount today (April 3) as the women’s rights group UltraViolet has announced they will lead a protest outside of Reebok’s flagship store in Manhattan tomorrow (April 4).
UltraViolet members are planning to deliver 71,763+ petitions to the company’s flagship store demanding the company fire the Maybach Music Group leader.
“We are appalled that Reebok would pay a spokesperson who brags about enjoying drugging and raping a woman,” said Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of UltraViolet. “Reebok devotes a lot of time, energy and money to marketing to women–and now they are paying a man who is literally bragging about raping us while absurdly insisting it can’t possibly be rape if he doesn’t use the word “rape.” Reebok is apparently OK promoting rape culture, but when 1 out of 5 women are the victim of an attempted or completed rape, that has consequences.”
[Twitter Wars: Talib Kweli and Dream Hampton Battle Over Rick Ross Rape Lyric]
While Rick Ross attempted to apologize in a radio interview earlier this week, Talib Kweli came forward this week and stated that the apology was not sufficient and that Rick Ross was a “misguided 40-year-old.”
“I want to make sure this is clear, woman is the most precious gift known to man, you understand? It was a misunderstanding with a lyric, a misinterpretation where the term rape wasn’t used. I would never use the word rape in my records,” Rick Ross explained. “And as far as my camp, hip-hop don’t condone that, streets don’t condone that. Nobody condones that, you understand me? I just wanted to reach out to all the queens that’s on my timeline, all the sexy ladies, the beautiful ladies that have been reaching out to me about the misunderstanding. We don’t condone rape and I’m not with that.”
For the protest, dozens of women are planning to appear in running gear with marathon style bibs featuring the number 71,763, with boxes of 71,763 petitions, and signs reading, “Hey Reebok– Want my business? Stop promoting rape. Drop Rick Ross.”
UltraViolet’s protest will take place at Reebok’s flagship NYC store located at 420 5th Ave, NYC at 2pm.
More news as details emerge.