GLAAD Condemns MTV Over Tyler, the Creator’s VMA Win

While his boys from Odd Future were ecstatic over his Best New Artist Moonman, many people are disappointed that Tyler, the Creator was awarded the trophy at the MTV Video Music Awards this year. With offensive, curse-laden lyrics that have been labeled as misogynistic, violent, and homophobic, it's obvious why groups like GLAAD are condemning MTV for honoring the rapper.

Despite the fact that he uses the word "fa---t" continuously on his second LP 'Goblin,' Tyler, the Creator beat out stars like Wiz Khalifa and Foster the People for the Best New Artist award at the VMAs on Sunday. Matt Kane, GLAAD's Associate Director of Entertainment, wrote a blog post expressing his concerns about Tyler, the Creator's win, especially since MTV has a strong influence on the minds of younger generations. Here's what Kane had to say:

"What’s really ironic is that in a time when the public is becoming more supportive of LGBT people and other major artists are showing their support through their music, Tyler and Odd Future are padding their lyrics with anti-gay slurs and dangerous, violent rhetoric. But there is nothing ironically clever about hate speech, particularly when a significant part of those listening are adolescents seeking to emulate their favorite artists. It’s simply irresponsible and destructive."

Kane's GLAAD colleague Herndon Graddick also weighed in, saying, "Rather than providing simply a larger platform, MTV and other networks should educate viewers about why anti-gay and misogynistic language has no place in the music industry today ... Given Tyler’s history of such remarks, viewers and potential sponsors should refrain from honoring homophobia and in the future look to a more deserving artist."

Although Tyler won due to fan votes, MTV did make the decision to nominate him in the first place. In the past, Tyler, the Creator has said that he isn't homophobic, but he also told MTV, "Well, I have gay fans and they don’t really take it offensive, so I don’t know. If it offends you, it offends you … I really don’t give a s---."

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