The rapper and singer was scheduled to perform at the Freedom LIVE event in Washington DC on September 20. But, as Billboard reports, organisers have cancelled his set, calling the comments, “inconsistent with Navy core values”.
On August 31, Green – real name Thomas Callaway – posted a series of tweets relating to a recent court case in which he pleaded no contest. The singer was accused of slipping ecstasy into a woman’s drink at a dinner in July 2012. He was sentenced to three years of formal probation and ordered to complete 360 hours of community service.
“People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!,” posted Green. “If someone is passed out they’re not even WITH you consciously! so WITH Implies consent.”
Green later issued an apology for the posts. “I truly and deeply apologize for the comments attributed to me on Twitter,” he wrote. “Those comments were idiotic, untrue and not what I believe.”
Speaking via the gig’s Facebook page, Freedom LIVE organisers explained their decision to drop Green’s performance. “Unfortunately, one of the performers we signed for the JBAB Freedom Live show on 20 September recently posted comments on social media that we consider to completely inconsistent with Navy core values. Regardless of intent or context, the lack of sensitivity towards an issue that is one of the great challenges facing our Navy is unacceptable.”
Refunds have been offered to ticket holders. Country band Little Big Town are scheduled to headline the show.
