Frontman of The 1975, Matty Healy, had apologised for the comments he made in an interview with the Fader regarding hip-hop and misogyny.
Asked about his perspective on drugs in the music industry, he responded: “One of the problems is the youth of hip-hop. At the moment, with Soundcloud rap, it’s become a bit of a drug-taking competition, and that happened in rock and roll. Those things get weeded out the longer those things exist.”
He continued: “The reason misogyny doesn’t happen in rock and roll anymore is because it’s a vocabulary that existed for so long is that it got weeded out. It still exists in hip hop because [the genre] is so young, but it’ll stop. that’s why you have this moment with young black men – Kanye-aged men, as well – talking about their relationship with themselves, which is a big step forward for hip hop. Drake, for example.
“But then they [hip hop artists] will be like, ‘But I still got bitches’. The scene’s relationship with women hasn’t caught up to its relationship with itself, but that’s something that will happen.”
Following a barrage of criticism on social media, Healy posted a series of tweets apologising for his comments.
“This bit of me talking in an interview reads as patronising, uninformed and reductive,” he wrote. “And to be fair it is. And I’d like to apologise… (thread).
“What I said isn’t correct. And it’s not all a misquote. Just for clarity I said that misogyny wasn’t ALLOWED in rock and roll now days [sic] in a way it is in hip hop – not that it doesn’t exist, maybe that’s a misquote as I’m aware of the misogyny in rock and roll…
“I would never deny the RAMPANT misogyny that exists in rock and roll. It’s everywhere and has been a weirdly accepted part of it since its inception. BUT now looking at what I said – I was simplifying a complex issue without the right amount of education on the subject.
“Think ‘cos I’m so actively trying to support women (not a brag but with the record label etc) I kinda forget that I’m not very educated on feminism and misogyny and I can’t just ‘figure stuff out’ in public and end up trivialising the complexities of such enormous, experienced issues.”
He concluded: “So basically, I’m sorry for saying that as I was wrong. And thanks for pointing it out cos if I’m gonna do this I have to keep learning.”
The 1975 released their latest album, A Brief History of Online Relationships, just last week to critical reclaim.
