Too Short’s XXL Advice Video Prompts Outrage, Petition and Apologies
Yesterday we shared an appalling video XXL magazine featuring Bay Area rapper Too Short giving “fatherly advice” to young boys.
In this particular video–the third in the series–Too Short attempted to school boys on the birds and the bees, but instead ended up arming them potentially dangerous info to “turn girls out.”
Apparently, others felt equally outraged by the video and a petition calling for the ousting of XXL’s editor Vanessa Satten recently sprang up.
Calling themselves the People against media violence, the petitioners write:
“In a culture where 44% of rape victims are under the age of 18; in a society where someone is assaulted every 2 minutes; with 2/3 of victims committed by someone known by the victim and 38% of rapists being either friends or acquaintances of the victims, and 15 of 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail, we stand together in condemnation of this video. The sanctioning and normalization of violence against women and girls stands squarely in opposition to creating a just and humane society. This video represents yet another assault on women and girls throughout society in its promotion of sexual violence, in its acceptance of the daily denigration and sanctioning of violence against women and girls.”
Since the video came under fire, both Too Short and XXL editor Vanessa Satten have apologized.
“I want to apologize to anyone I may have offended with the XXL video interview I recently did,” Too Short stated. “When I got on camera I was in Too $hort mode and had a lapse of judgement.I would never advise a child or young man to do these things, it’s not how I get down. Although I have made my career on dirty raps, I have worked over the years to somewhat balance the content of my music with giving back to the community.”
Satten, XXL’s Editor-in-Chief, also apologized for the video’s release.
“There has been some recent controversy surrounding a video interview with Too $hort that posted on XXLMag.com last week,” she said in a statement posted on the magazine’s website.
“Many readers found the tone and content of the interview to be offensive and were angered that it was allowed to post on the website,” Satten said. “I agree with their perspective. I do not see all content before it goes live. When I saw this video, I was truly offended and thought it crossed the line. I had it taken down immediately. I am disappointed that an employee decided to post it and I am putting internal procedures in place to make sure content like this does not go on the site. The video goes against my value system and represents poor judgment on behalf of the individual who posted it.”
What do you think of the petition and the apologies?
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Ummm… I thought editors were supposed to do just that…edit. They can keep their sorry apologies. I get tired of people and their sorry a** apologies. In my line of work we always say asking forgiveness is easier than asking permission. These people knew this was disgusting and wrong the moment it was recorded. He knew he was wrong for saying it, regardless of how much “community work” (as if that is suppose to make it OK that he was basically advising boys on how to rape girls). She knew it was wrong because they took the video down instead of keeping it up.
I agree.
Too Short’s apology made me LOL
“I would never advise a child or young man to do these things, it’s not how I get down.” Um, what? But that’s exactly what you did.
I’m disgusted that the “editor” let something so vile get past her. Now her solution is to just apologize and sweep the matter under the rug. Whose decision was it to let Too Short, of all people, to give advice about sex to young boys in the first place? He could have used his influence to encourage young boys to further their education and stay out of the system. Instead, he’s giving advice on how to sexually violate young girls. Just because this is a hip hop publication doesn’t mean they don’t have to be responsible.
I think we as consumers need to let our feelings be known to the advertisers of XXL Magazine. I was thoroughly disgusted and shocked that a man would say those things on period and then to know they were going to be shared with the world. SMH as the love of my life said: #TooShortshouldbecalledTooStupid
This man is a tool. He would never say what he just said….but he did because he has a multiple personality disorder? Am I understanding this correctly? WTF. He could have done a snippet on black history month/something about music….. These kids need positive role models. But I’m more confused and disappointed that this editor is a female and didn’t see anything wrong with posting this foolishness. She should be fired for being an imbecile. Now we are suppose to accept this apology and brush our shoulders off. I don’t think so. We need to demand respect, we don’t need an apology. They need to do better.
His apology indeed is laughable. He is being a character? Oh ok, not good enough. Actually it’s offensive. This man got charged with trying to bring underage girls backstage a few years back. So for this so-called human being being able to give out sexual assault vice to young boys is criminal. I am signing the petition. I am following the young woman that put it together on Twitter. That editor MUST be fired, without a doubt. She was so excited to do this interview because she thought it would be edgy and funny and get her page views. She sold herself out, so did Too Short. They are both whores & slaves to the ol’ mighty dollar. Sick.
I would be sympathetic to the editor if she was ignorant of who Too Short is…..but your at a Hip Hop magazine. Who thinks an advice page from a wannabe pimp to young men is a good idea? Still not sure about her losing her job over it.
I can’t believe you are riding the fence on this one…normalizing sexual assault and you don’t know if someone should lose their job over it? Wow…this is what is the problem with this issue, a lot of people do not take this serious enough. Something that can potential ruing someones life forever. We are not just talking about little girls being the victims by their peers either, but young boys being assaulted too. Sad that this isn’t more serious to you.
Sorry but not enough here for me to say the editor should get canned. She said she missed it, that’s a lot different from seeing it and approving it. I do not know the history of what gets published in XXL of late under her watch, been a while since I read it. Holding Short responsible is a no brainer but you can not “fire” him. She should be reprimanded maybe suspended, but I hesitate of firing if she does not have a history.
This seems to be a case of her paying the cost to be the boss. I’ve edited a journal; nothing on this scale but you know what? I wore the hat, so ultimately every mistake was mine. That bull about “an employee messed up”–nope, she messed up, plain and simple. That’s what her job is as editor, to take responsibility whether she was paying attention or not. And she didn’t do her job.
somebody should lose something. too short? his career needs to be over.
if there is no pain to the creeps who put this on they will do it again.
My thing is why does the media give these disgustingly overly tattooed little retards a forum to speak in the first place. If the money hungry idiot record executives (who have no idea of what real talent is) didn’t promote and try to shove that crap down our throats, most of these half wits would be in jail, in a mental institution, or on some corner selling crack. The black community should ignore these freaks. They have no substance.
Trash. Plain and simple. And how old is too short any dog gone way? This negro walkin’ round with gray hair and a gut still talkin’ that foolishness. Have a seat.
Hopefully none of you that have expressed anger over his comments or apology have any of his work. I really hope not. Because if you do, you are worse than he.
these apologies are bull.
straight p.r.
heads need to roll at xxl
Totally off the subject and not trying to be funny…but I thought Too Short died years ago. Is he trying to make a comeback or something?
His death was just a rumor… unfortunately.
Too Short has been washed up for years xxl just put the spotlight back on him and for what?? I bet his ugly ass is lovin all the attention he’s getting…how lame and what a creep.
In a sense, I can’t really blame him. The environment/culture he’s in (the hip-hop culture) fosters this sick, misogynistic mindset, so of course he won’t think twice about advising teenage boys how to rape their female peers. To him, this is clearly a very normal thing. A rock, country or pop star would NEVER be foolish enough to say shit like this, because at least they’re not in a culture where they’re conditioned to think that this is acceptable.
Too Short’s lewd comments are just a symptom of the greater problem at hand: Hip-hop. For years rappers have been spreading their sexist poison into the mainstream, and to this day not a damn thing has been done about it. Anytime someone is brave enough to call them out on their bullshit, they quickly get shut down ( see Oprah, Ashley Judd), and any attempt at discourse on the subject is automatically lost. Maybe (and HOPEFULLY) this will be the desperately-needed wake up call that hip-hop needs to be remedied of its rampant misogyny ASAP. But I’m not holding my breath for that.
OK, rant over.
Can’t see anyway to defend a man on this one.
If it was my daughter that got thrown up against a wall . . . .etc etc . mumbling threats of serious harmage.
As a general perspective, someone help me understand the dichotomy I see in the American culture. Sexual moral outrage seems quite prevalent in our culture while our outrage with corrupt government officials who lie, pad their own pockets, apparent moral corruption are rationalized and condoned.
I don’t want to be misunderstood here as I strongly support adult protection of our youth though I must admit I simply don’t understand the lack of outrage regarding the lack of such outrage regarding corruption in our layers of government structure (local, state and federal.)
easy
conditioning.
Maladjusted….well…I sure hope someone or many of us “ring the bell”.
I personally do not feel like the editor should be FIRED. and I must say that I do appreciate that the video was aired, letting US ALL know what Too Short is STILL ALL about. I’d thank the editor for EXPOSING his ways giving US, the consumer, the power to petition HIS music and therefore his “comeback”. I look at it like this…nobody wants to point the finger and say this person is a woman beater but if the woman beater says yes i beat women then the only person that should be held responbile for that behavior is, THE WOAMN BEATER, NOT the person who gave him the platform to expose HIMSELF.