Tegan and Sara Call Out Odd Future Leader

On Friday the hip hop collective known as Odd Future pulled into New York for a sold out performance at the Highline Ballroom, and after it came a wave of controversial publicity stemming from the so-called “riot” in Boston the previous day and blog post that began circulating on the Internet.

Sara Quin, the openly gay singer of the popular Canadian duo Tegan and Sara, posted a letter on the band's website expressing their disgust with the success and celebration of Odd Future, referring in particular to Tyler Okonma, who calls himself "Tyler, the Creator." 

In a blog post titled “A Call for Change,” Quin wrote:

"When will misogynistic and homophobic ranting and raving result in meaningful repercussions in the entertainment industry? When will they be treated with the same seriousness as racist and anti-Semitic offenses? While an artist who can barely get a sentence fragment out without using homophobic slurs is celebrated on the cover of every magazine, blog and newspaper, I’m disheartened that any self-respecting human being could stand in support with a message so vile."

Quin also made a point to call out industry professionals for standing by while Odd Future’s message creeps from the margins into the mainstream sphere:

"In any other industry would I be expected to tolerate, overlook and find deeper meaning in this kid’s sickening rhetoric? Why should I care about this music or its “brilliance” when the message is so repulsive and irresponsible?"

Finally, Quin takes a moment to note that she understands the potential consequence to opening this discourse, but knows the importance of being heard:

"It is not without great hesitation and hand wringing that I enter into the discourse about Tyler, the media who glorifies and excuses misogyny and homophobia, and the community of artists that doesn’t seem remotely bothered by it. I can only hope that someone reading this might be inspired to speak out. At the very least, I will know that my voice is on record."

At this point, Tyler, the Creator’s only response to the message Quin was to tweet something that we cannot publish here.

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