In case you haven’t heard, Singer / songwriter John Mayer did an interview with Playboy and certain remarks he made within the interview, sparked some controversy. And just like any good celeb who has a case of verbal dysentery, the press throws the chum into the waters and it becomes a feeding frenzy for the public masses. Everyone needs to have their opinions heard( not that I’m doing anything like that….*whistles a tune*), morons dominate the twitter trending topics and so and so forth.
The controversy lies in several racial remarks John made such as:
PLAYBOY: If you didn’t know you, would you think you’re a douche bag?
MAYER: It depends on what I picked up. My two biggest hits are “Your Body Is a Wonderland” and “Daughters.” If you think those songs are pandering, then you’ll think I’m a douche bag. It’s like I come on very strong. I am a very…I’m just very. V-E-R-Y. And if you can’t handle very, then I’m a douche bag. But I think the world needs a little very. That’s why black people love me.
PLAYBOY: Because you’re very?
MAYER: Someone asked me the other day, “What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?” And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’”
PLAYBOY: It is true; a lot of rappers love you. You recorded with Common and Kanye West, played live with Jay-Z.
MAYER: What is being black? It’s making the most of your life, not taking a single moment for granted. Taking something that’s seen as a struggle and making it work for you, or you’ll die inside. Not to say that my struggle is like the collective struggle of black America. But maybe my struggle is similar to one black dude’s.
PLAYBOY: Do black women throw themselves at you?
MAYER: I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick.
So there you have it. That right above you is what’s driving everyone into a “tizzy”. Now, I can’t really delve deep into how it’s racist, etc., how I’m offended, and what we as a people should do about racial remarks. It’s not really my place to say that. Being a white kid from the suburbs who thinks Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News is in fact, “the shit“. I’m as qualified as the cast of The Jersey Shore doing a guest appearance on Jeopardy (“I’ll take tanning and gold necklaces for 500 Alex! What?! Not a category! COME AT ME BRO!”).
Instead I’m mostly going to address the point that “celebs” say stupid shit. The only thing we as a people should do is take it all with a grain of salt. John Mayer is definitely in that same category. Nothing against the guy because I think he’s hysterical and I don’t care I’ll say it, the guy is a hell of a musician. If you don’t believe me, listen to the John Mayer Trio album. The thing is, John Mayer doesn’t even take himself seriously when it comes to judgment of his character (well until now at least). He constantly comes off as an arrogant asshole in the media, constantly plays games with the press, but we don’t have to like him as a person. I think people have a hard time separating performer from person. Christian Bale isn’t really running around fighting crime in costume, just directors of photography…
I believe in this country, we tend to overreact and over think over small trivial things. Not saying that racism is a small trivial thing, but I think we tend to jump to conclusions a bit too soon and turn into an angry mob over things that could be solved with a shrug. We constantly go over everything in the media with a fine tooth comb and the little bits that we are left with, we analyze to hell and turn it into an eyesore. I highly doubt that John Mayer is a racist, I do believe he’s someone that thought he could use metaphors involving racial slurs and package it as “witty”. That works 0% of the time. It’s the wrong audience to pitch to, the majority doesn’t have the mindset for it. It’s like trading bar tending tips at an AA meeting.
Well Hugh must be enjoying the press! by the way, That couch is made of real sabretooth tiger that Hugh hunted himself!
Moderation is not exactly this country’s strongest point. There’s a study of people eating poorly? Make sure Mcdonalds serves healthy food! My kid is getting fat! We’ll take away chips and candy and have vending machines that serve healthy food! Yet in Roxborough, Philadelphia (where I grew up); there’s three Dunkin Donuts on one avenue. Does that make any fucking sense?! You get fat because you constantly eat at McDonalds. Well… it’s McDonalds, if you wanted to eat healthier, go to a Salad Works. The giant french fry arches you saw 100 feet away when you pulled up there should’ve told you that. Your kid is fat? Pack him healthy lunches. Education and common sense are two things that are fucking critical and we never use them. Again, solved with a shrug.
Just like this current controversy. Instead of being shocked and appalled by what John Mayer says, we should take it into moderation and not cling on to every word he says. Celebs should be viewed as old men with dementia, 90% is inane babbling and you just reply with, yeah yeah ok pops..
You can't take him seriously folks, I ask you to draw your attention to exhibit A
I also believe that most people didn’t read the whole interview and just jumped straight into that particular part and formed opinions. If you did read most of it you can tell which parts are him just dicking around and which parts are actually sincere. There’s no cryptic messages that need deciphering to figure out which one is which. When he talks about himself it’s mostly a running joke, when he talks about music, it’s a lot more real.
I’ll repeat myself when I say that John Mayer is not a racist. Remember the outburst Michael Richards had on stage? That was racism. That came from a really dark hateful place too quickly and too easily. In Mayer’s case it was merely a case of choosing poor words to make a point and being too naive to think he could get away with that. Someone asked Mayer on twitter if he would turn into another celeb who goes to rehab for saying something racist. Mayer replied, ” There’s no rehab for being an asshole.” I think he pretty much nailed it. Richards did go to seek professional help from this because it was something more psychological rather than saying something dumb.
The whole hood pass thing, there is no hood pass. Which is what he was TRYING to explain. I don’t really think he’ll get one now. That fucker is VOIDED. Chalk another tally to the white celebs who piss off an entire race of people board. Not enough room to chalk that tally? Maybe we should get another chalk board… It’s expensive? I’ll put it on my hood card. Sorry John, it’s been maxed out.. Lesson learned, you can’t afford to say stupid things and think you’re above those phrases and use them to attempt to make a point.
So like all media that’s similar to this story, you’ll hear about it for weeks, people will tire of it, and the human circus continues to revolve until it makes it’s stop at the next celeb cluster fuck. Instead of fanning the flame, go hiking. It’s a hell of a lot more healthy.
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