Nationwide — Rapper Lil Yachty not too long ago criticized the Black Lives Matter (BLM) group, calling it a rip-off and accusing it of misusing funds. His feedback reignited debates in regards to the group’s monetary practices and management.
Throughout an look on Quenlin Blackwell’s Feeding Ravenous Celebrities cooking sequence, Yachty expressed his views when requested about his philanthropic efforts, in keeping with Billboard. He bluntly responded, “BLM is a rip-off.” He then referenced studies of alleged monetary misconduct by BLM leaders.
Yachty highlighted allegations that BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors used group funds to buy a $6 million mansion in Los Angeles in 2020. Cullors defended the acquisition in 2023, stating that the property was meant to supply long-term stability for Black-led organizations.
BLM confronted extra scrutiny in 2022 when Shalomyah Bower, a pacesetter of the Black Lives Matter World Community Basis (BLMGNF), was accused of stealing $10 million in donations. Though the lawsuit was later dismissed, issues in regards to the group’s monetary administration persevered.
In the meantime, the group responded to Yachty’s remarks in a press release, calling his feedback misinformed and dangerous.
In a press release, the group stated, “It’s clear Lil Yachty has been consuming the white supremacist ideology Kool-Help. His feedback are mistaken. They’re misinformed, unoriginal, and crafted to please the identical individuals who revenue from Black struggling.”
The true rip-off isn’t Black Lives Matter. It’s watching Black artists with huge platforms recycle the identical drained assaults on Black actions whereas ignoring the precise programs killing us. Black Lives Matter has supported Black households who’ve misplaced family members to police violence. Now we have constructed applications, funded mutual support, and fought in courtrooms and on the streets to guard our folks.”
Furthermore, Lil Yachty will not be the primary rapper to criticize BLM. Ye, previously often known as Kanye West, additionally known as the group a rip-off in a 2022 Instagram publish, writing, “Everybody is aware of Black Lives Matter was a rip-off. Now it’s over… you’re welcome.”
