Common once denounced the men’s lacrosse team at Duke University, in the wake of the infamous rape scandal. Now, he is issuing a public apology.
“I want to say first of all that I apologize for accusing people wrong that didn’t do it,” the rapper said to The Raleigh News.
Later, Com admitted that his comments against the lacrosse team came from a very emotional place.
“I just felt like, ‘That’s my sister,’ so I felt emotional about it, and I guess I did what a lot of people do to other people, to convict them or consider them guilty before we even know the truth,” he added.
Now, Com is coming back to Duke to perform at a college festival, The Last Day of Classes. TLDOC Chair Beth Higgings spoke on the matter.
“He made a mistake, and he acknowledged that, and I feel like students should accept that,” she noted.
Some students are already forgiving.
“There were definitely irresponsible comments, but the fact that he apologized makes it seem like he will try and put on a good show and actually cares about what Duke students think,” a freshman, Jordan Rice, told the Duke Chronicle.
While some forgive, others don’t. Another student, Jon Martin voiced his concern.
“It’s always appropriate to apologize, but I think it’s pretty obvious this was a PR move.”
Others feel the comments had no effect on them. Sara Parker, a Junior at the university, noted this.
“I felt his comments were inappropriate at the time, but it wouldn’t have changed whether or not I attended the LDOC show.”
