Earlier this week, rapper, CEO, and business owner Rick Ross fell under fire after his appearance on Power 105.1 FM’s The Breakfast Club. He delivered a controversial answer regarding why he doesn’t sign female rappers. The self-proclaimed “Biggest Boss” told the trio on air that women are not signed to the label because, “I would end up f—ing a female rapper and f—ing the business up.”
Ross, whose comments came during the same week of his new VH1 series debut Signed — a music competition hosted alongside singer-songwriter The Dream and A&R heavyweight Lenny S. — took to his Facebook account Thursday afternoon to apologize.
“I want to address an insensitive comment I made on a very sensitive issue, especially in a minority dominated industry like hip-hop,” he began. “My entire empire’s backbone is led by two of the strongest people I know and they happen to be women, my mother and sister. The operations wouldn’t run without them and I have the highest regard and respect for women in this industry. I have a daughter myself, my most cherished gift in the world.”
The famed rapper then went on to cite his comments as a mistake he regrets and wrote, “My comment is not [a] reflection of my beliefs on the issue.” Adding on that he hopes to use his platform and mistake to open a positive discussion to implement change on the “very important issue.” During the last paragraph of his statement, Ross promoted the new show, Signed, and noted that many of the talented artists on the show are women who are in the running to be placed on his Maybach Music Group label.
Prior to posting the apology on his page, the artist posted two videos showcasing the women artists from the premiere episode — with one being Basketball Wives star Tami Roman’s daughter, Jazz Anderson — and two photos of himself with female rappers Trina and Lundy.
This is not the first time Ross has been in the line of controversy for offending women through his words. In 2013, the rapper lost his endorsement deal with Reebok after he was criticized for supporting date rape with his lyrics for the Rocko single, “U.O.E.N.O.”