LL COOL J is one of the most iconic rappers of all time, but the self-proclaimed G.O.A.T. just got slighted by President Joe Biden.
The Democratic President honored the “Headsprung” rapper and MC Lyte at the Congressional Black Caucus Phoenix Awards on Saturday (September 23). But the two legends’ moment in the sun was dampened by Biden’s flubbing of Uncle L’s name and referring to him as “boy.”
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“Two of the greatest artist of our time, representing the groundbreaking legacy of Hip Hop in America,” Biden began. “LL Jay Cool J…uh…by the way, that boy, uh, that man’s got bigger biceps than my thighs.”
Check it out below.
LL COOL J: President Joe Biden catches heat for calling rapper "boy" & butchering his name https://t.co/52WCdDsvQrpic.twitter.com/TvozC7F6UW
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) September 24, 2023
Reactions to the flub were mixed, with some commenters noting that Biden’s advanced age of 80 makes everyone a “boy” in his eyes.
“Politically incorrect but when you’re 85 everybody under 70 is a boy to you, lol,” wrote one commenter.
“It’s important to focus on the substantive policy issues at hand, rather than individual gaffes, to form a comprehensive opinion about a leader’s competence and intentions,” another said.
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However, other commenters weren’t as forgiving.
“As always, can you imagine if any Republican said that? Would be leading the Sunday morning shows,” wrote one Twitter user, while another wrote: “When Joe Wilson shouted ‘Liar,’ the New York Times wrote an entire piece about the implied ‘Boy’ in his statement. Biden actually uses the word and gets a pass?”
What made the gaffe against LL COOL J more interesting was that the rapper-turned-actor had worked with the Biden administration before.
Last December, the “Mama Said Knock You Out” rapper got the rare chance to light the National Christmas Tree alongside President Joe Biden and his wife, First Lady Jill Biden.
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The tree lighting took place outside the White House on November 30, but the actual TV event aired on December 11, with LL serving as the host for the big show.
“The most epic selfie you’ll see today,” he wrote in an Instagram post documenting the occasion. “Such an honor to be lighting the National Christmas Tree with The President of The United States.”
