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Bernie Sanders Supporter Killer Mike Apologizes for Using Antigay Slur

Bernie Sanders Supporter Killer Mike Apologizes for Using Antigay Slur

killer mike, bernie sanders

Rapper Killer Mike went on Twitter to apologize for his past use of the f word.

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After gaining widespread attention for his passionate endorsement of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president, rapper Killer Mike atoned for his past use of the antigay slur "fag."

Late last month the rapper, who performs with group Run the Jewels, took to Twitter to apologize for his use of the slur, acknowledging that his usage was typical of a "dumb hetero guy."

On Twitter, Killer Mike (whose given name is Michael Render) said: killer mike, bernie sanders, tweet

Those last two tweets appear to be a reference to Sanders's rival, Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton. The former Secretary of State has been confronted by at least two black female protestors demanding an apology for comments she made in the 1990s, claiming that some young black men were "super-predators." The campaign to secure an apology from Clinton has picked up steam on social media under the hashtag #WhichHillary.

In a video posted to Twitter, Killer Mike referenced the queer black woman who interrupted Clinton at a private campaign event in South Carolina last month, carrying a banner with a quote from a 1996 speech where Clinton said of young black criminals, "We have to bring them to heel."

The rapper seemed unimpressed by Clinton's dismissive tone in that February 24 interaction, comparing it with Sanders's response when Black Lives Matter activists shut down a rally for the Vermont senator in Seattle in August:

"When you have an opportunity to tell 2 black girls to shut up and get off stage, and you don't, and you shake their hand, and you smile, and you step to the side, and you listen -- that is a firm difference from turning around and staring at a little black girl, and saying, "Shut up. I'll talk to you later. You're being rude," or allowing people to say that to her.

The rapper endorsed Sanders in November after he spent five hours interviewing the Senator at Atlanta's Fox Theater. He delivered a rousing speech that has since gone viral. Rolling Stonereported that he said during that speech:

"I have said in many a rap, I don't trust the church or the government, a Democrat, Republican, a pope, a bishop or those other men.

"But after spending five hours tonight, after spending five hours with someone who has spent the last 50 years radically fighting for your rights and mine, I can tell you that am very proud tonight to announce the next president of the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders."

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Yezmin Villarreal

Yezmin Villarreal is the former news editor for The Advocate. Her work has also appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Mic, LA Weekly, Out Magazine and The Fader.
Yezmin Villarreal is the former news editor for The Advocate. Her work has also appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Mic, LA Weekly, Out Magazine and The Fader.