Rick Ross sent Twitter messages to fans and sponsors Thursday apologizing for a lyric in one of his new songs that seems to condone rape. He’s been literally under fire – the Rick Ross drive-by shooting investigation is ongoing – and he’s taking verbal shots thanks to his “U.O.E.N.O.” lyrics: Put molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it . Last week, Ross seemed unrepentant during an interview with the New Orleans radio station Q93, pointing out only that “the word rape wasn’t used.” But the criticism continued to build, and he apologized Thursday : “I don’t condone rape. Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape.” He followed it an hour later with a second message: “Apologies to my many business partners, who would never promote violence against women.” That note specifically mentioned Reebok and UltraViolet. The latter, a feminist organization, threatened to protest outside a Reebok store in NYC and circulate a petition demanding it cut ties with Rick Ross. The group’s co-founder Nita Chaudhary said Ross “is pushing the idea that if you don’t use the word ‘rape’ it doesn’t count. We are fed up and disgusted.” Talib Kweli, a New York rapper, added, “Rick Ross condoned rape in that song and he shouldn’t, he should apologize, and the apology he offered was unacceptable.” This is surprisingly the least of the rapper’s woes lately. Ross was shot at from another car in January while in Florida, though it is unclear by whom.
