Tyler, the Creator has spoken out about his recent ban from the UK, which saw him prevented from entering the UK for 3-5 years.
The reason for the rapper's ban was allegedly related to lyrics dating back to 2010, which were deemed to be offensive, glamorised "violent physical abuse, rape and murder in graphic terms" and were homophobic.
Now, in an interview with The Guardian, the 24-year-old - who has also been banned from New Zealand and cancelled a tour in Australia last month after groups protested him receiving a visa - has said that he has been treated like a criminal and a terrorist and that the UK government was just following the lead of other countries by banning him.
"Everyone is a follower, just following what other countries are doing," he said. "Now I’m getting treated like a terrorist. I’m bummed out because it’s like, dude, I’m not homophobic. I’ve said this since the beginning. The “hating women” thing – it’s so nuts. It’s based on things I made when I was super-young, when no one was listening [to my music]."
He went on to say that his ban was setting a dangerous precedent.
"This is only gonna open a door for other people to get banned," he said. "And then they’re gonna go after video games, and then they’re gonna go after movies, and we’re gonna live in such a sensitive world. It’s like the world is scared of everything. I feel like everyone is so sensitive to everything, and if they don’t like something it’s like: “Oh my God, I don’t like the colour yellow – let’s get yellow banned from every country, let’s sign a petition – let’s start a hashtag to make sure this colour is never seen, because I don’t like it and I don’t understand it.”
Read the full interview with Tyler, the Creator here.
