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Tyler, the Creator Defends His Mountain Dew Ad

Tyler The Creator attends the 2012 Adult Swim Upfront Party at Roseland Ballroom on May 16, 2012 in New York City. 22455_002_0042.JPG *** Local Caption ***
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/2012 WireImage

On Wednesday, PepsiCo pulled and apologized for a Tyler, the Creator–developed Mountain Dew ad that was deemed racist — most notably by Dr. Boyce Watkins, a Syracuse University professor. Tyler has finally commented in a long conversation with Billboard, and he stands by the commercial: “There’s no type of hate being portrayed in that work of art at all.†And “The stereotypes are what I’m confused on, no one was even thinking about that … I wasn’t thinking, ‘Oh, let’s use all black [people]; or whatever.†Watkins had since softened his stance, saying that he studied Tyler’s music and has an “altered perspective,†but he’s still not okay with the ad: “If you have a voice that reaches millions, u have an obligation to use that voice responsibly. Accidental racism is not a valid excuse.†Anyway, the full Tyler interview is here.

Tyler, the Creator Defends His Mountain Dew Ad