Emmett Till's Family Wants Mountain Dew to Drop Lil Wayne
The family of Emmett Till has no intentions of letting Lil Wayne get away with an offensive line about the slain teen, and are asking that Mountain Dew drop him from an endorsement deal.
Wayne has been targeted by the family over his verse on Future's "Karate Chop" remix. On the song, Weezy threatens to "Beat the p---y up like Emmett Till," referencing the fatal attack on Till.
Future's label, Epic Records, issued an apology for the lyric and edited the song, but the New Orleans native has yet to release a statement of remorse. Thus, the family wants his pockets to take a hit. "His lyrical indiscretions revived Emmett's spirit simply to murder him again by trivializing the importance of those who have sacrificed, struggled and died for our equality," a family member said in a video posted online.
Addressing Wayne specifically, she said, "I think that it's important that our children see you take a stance to right this wrong."
"It's just mind boggling. It really makes me want to cry," echoed Pastor Wheeler Parker Jr., a cousin who witnessed Till's murder.
Till's death is seen as a defining moment that helped to launch the civil rights movement. The 14-year-old Till was beaten, shot and drowned by two white men back in 1955. His killers were acquitted for the crime.
The Till family's call to action comes weeks after Rick Ross was protested over rape lyrics on Rocko's "U.O.E.N.O." He was subsequently fired from his endorsement deal with Reebok.
So far, no word from Mountain Dew.
Get ready for the BET Experience, featuring Beyoncé, Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Erykah Badu, Kendrick Lamar and many more. Go here for more details and info on how to buy tickets.
BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
(Photo: Mountain Dew Ad Campaign)