Halsey on TODAY | Nathan Congleton / NBC
Update: Amid controversy over remarks Halsey made in an interview with The Guardian (and the subsequent trending of a “#halseyisoverparty” hashtag), the artist issued a response on Twitter.
The openly bisexual Halsey addressed what some perceived as defense of Quavo, who came under fire earlier this year for a comment he made in an interview with Rolling Stone. Quavo’s perspective on rapper iLOVEMAKONNEN was deemed homophobic by many fans and journalists.
Halsey clarified that she was not defending Quavo, with whom she collaborated on the song “Lie.” She noted that she did not know about his comments when they collaborated, had not spoken a word to him, and had no intention of pursuing a friendship “unless he wants to make a legitimate apology.”
The artist meanwhile stood by the interview comments she made about Iggy Azalea.
In the aforementioned Guardian piece, the biracial Halsey called Azalea a “fucking moron” that has a complete disregard for black culture.”
Halsey Tweeted that she doesn’t regret the Iggy comments and doesn’t “regret saying that Iggy has a disregard for black culture.”
Halsey ultimately deleted the Tweets in which she referenced Azalea, but comments specific to Quavo remain on her feed.
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Thursday afternoon, UK publication The Guardian published a feature with Halsey.
The artist’s comments — specifically those about fellow artists Quavo and Iggy Azalea — generated controversy among social media followers, with #halseyisoverparty becoming a worldwide trending topic.
Early Friday morning, Halsey responded to the controversy and clarified her stances on Quavo and Azalea.
Responding to a Tweet that claimed she defended Quavo and attacked Azalea in the interview, Halsey Tweeted, “The quavo comments taken out of an off record convo about music industry homophobia. NOT a defense. Don’t regret the Iggy comments sorry.”
“Honestly? I didn’t know that Quavo had made homophobic comments when I collaborated him,” continued Halsey. “We’ve never spoken a word to each other and I have no intention of pursuing a friendship there, unless he wants to make a legitimate apology.
HOWEVER. I don’t regret saying that Iggy has a disregard for black culture.”
When subsequently confronted abut “defending a rapper [she’d] never spoken a word to regarding LGBT issues,” Halsey noted, “I think thats an important point. I AM queer & I TRY to be understanding & want people to be educated. But im truly sorry for my misjudgment.”
Not content to simply address the Quavo and Azalea remarks, Halsey also made broader points about social consciousness.
“I work tirelessly to represent & support marginalized communities I love & am a part of. I’m sorry if my actions have ever seemed otherwise…I only meant to say that people can struggle being socially conscious if they don’t have the information/vocabulary. So we must educate them…And I’m proud to watch the young people around me work hard to educate themselves and others to stay woke every day.”
“Quavo” is featured on “Lie,” a track on Halsey’s recently released album “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.”
The original Guardian article called the collaboration “surprising.” Halsey is openly bisexual and recently shared a love letter to the LGBT community on Billboard, while Quavo came under fire for what many deemed to be homophobic remarks in a Rolling Stone feature.
“I think he’s misunderstood,” said Halsey in The Guardian piece. “Just because I choose to be a socially conscious artist, and I’m pretty good at it, that doesn’t mean every artist is going to be equipped to be politically correct. I don’t think he’s inherently homophobic, I think he’s in a tough place of trying to explain what he means. I agree his apology was bullshit but I can’t police everybody.”
Halsey meanwhile confirmed that she would not collaborate with Iggy Azalea, whom she believes showed a disregard for the black community.
“There’s a lot of people I wouldn’t put on my record,” noted Halsey. “Iggy Azalea: absolutely not. She had a complete disregard for black culture. Fucking moron. I watched her career dissolve and it fascinated me.”