Singer CeeLo Green might have made a few earwormy songs that you can barely dislodge from your head half a decade on, but you might not be so keen on what he has to say after he Tweeted some pretty grim stuff about rape.
For a bit of background, the singer is currently on trial for charges of ‘furnishing’ ecstasy and has pleaded no contest. It is alleged that he slipped ecstasy into a woman’s drink at a dinner in 2012, without getting her consent. It was also alleged by the complainant that he later raped her, but prosecutors dropped the charge because a lack of evidence. He’s been sentenced to three years of formal probation and 45 days of community service, but if he’s found in violation of drug laws, he could be in much deeper trouble.
In this context, Twitter users were asking him about the rape allegations. He responded with some pretty weird, creepy comments, writing: ‘when someone brakes [sic] on a home there is broken glass where is your plausible proof anyone was raped.’
He added: ‘if someone is passed out they’re not even WITH you consciously…Women who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!’'
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So, if we get this right, he’s saying that because the rape allegation was a case of one person’s word against another, it means his denial is true (a reminder, the prosecution dropped the rape charges against CeeLo, real name Thomas DeCarlo Callaway). He’s also said that you can only be raped if you’re awake. Well, anyone who’s ever made a yes/no decision, or, um, slept, should be aware that just because you can’t say no to something doesn’t mean you’re saying yes. Somehow he just didn’t get that.
When Twitter users turned on him, he hastily rushed out an apology. After thanking god for ‘exoneration fairness & freedom’, he added: ‘I only intended on a healthy exchange to help heal those who love me from the pain I had already caused from this. Please forgive me as it… was your support that got me thru this to begin with. I’d never condone the harm of any women. Thank you.'
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The thing is, a lot of people who didn’t and have never supported CeeLo Green beyond accidentally humming along to his songs when they used to come on the radio were offended by his bizarre definitions of rape. He must have eventually realised this and deleted his entire Twitter account as reported by Buzzfeed.
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Probably for the best, he’s known for making a bit of a dick of himself there. After getting a bad review he Tweeted the writer: ‘I respect your criticism, but be fair! People enjoyed last night! I’m guessing you’re gay? And my masculinity offended you? Well fuck you!’
He later apologised, and said ‘I was being a little outrageous…it was all in good fun.’
And just like we can’t escape the catchiness of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy eight years on, CeeLo might find it impossible to escape his own ability to put his foot in his mouth (figuratively – we’re not sure he’s that flexible).
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Picture: Getty
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.