Lil Wayne has finally come out and spoken with regret about his much controversial jibe at Emmett Till that he made in an unofficial version of the song Karate Chop remixed by Future. The line was targeting Till, who was brutally mutilated and murdered aged just 14 in 1955, for allegedly whistling at a white woman. His death was a huge spark in the equal rights movement by black Americans in the mid-20th century and Wayne’s lyrics have been met with widespread condemnation from Till’s family and many others besides.

Now the rapper has finally come out and made an apology to the family of Till in an open letter. “As a father myself, I cannot imagine the pain that your family has had to endure” he wrote. “I would like to take a moment to acknowledge your hurt, as well as the letter you sent to me via your attorneys.” Saying that he’d never reference Emmett Till in his music again and said he’d never perform the lyrics he’d written that had caused the outrage.

Lil Wayne finished his letter by writing “I have tremendous respect for those who paved the way for the liberty and opportunities that African-Americans currently enjoy. As a business owner who employs several African-American employees and gives philanthropically to organizations that help youth to pursue their dreams my ultimate intention is to uplift rather than degrade our community.” It’s about time.

Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne has finally apologized over his Emmett Till slur