Exploring Tyler the Creator’s controversies as he drops new album ‘Don’t Tap The Glass’
Tyler the Creator drops his new album Don’t Tap The Glass. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty)
Tyler the Creator drops his new album Don't Tap The Glass. (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty)
As Tyler the Creator releases his latest studio album, Don’t Tap The Glass, PinkNews looks back at his controversial and troubled relationship with the LGBTQ+ community.
Tyler the Creator’s Don’t Tap The Glass follows last year’s Chromakopia, which blended hip-hop, jazz, and soul, and topped the charts in nine countries. The rapper and singer, whose real name is Tyler Okonma, embarked on a world tour earlier this year.
However, Tyler the Creator has faced criticism throughout his career, including for the use of homophobic slurs.
In a 2011, he addressed the subject, saying: “I’m not homophobic. I just say f*ggot and use gay as an adjective to describe stupid sh*t.” In a later interview, he said: “I have gay fans and they don’t take [offence]. If it offends you, it offends you.”
Advocacy group GLAAD criticised the Video Music Awards for naming him best new artist that year.
Herndon Graddick, the senior director of programmes at GLAAD at the time, said: “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.
“Given Tyler’s history of such remarks, viewers and potential sponsors should refrain from honouring homophobia, and in the future look to a more-deserving artist.”
Is Tyler the Creator gay?
The topic of Tyler’s sexuality has been the subject of discussion amongst fans for years, and he’s offered up several comments about how he identifies.
Early in his career, the musician described himself as gay and told Noisey that he had a boyfriend when he was 15.
In 2018, Tyler talked about the lyrics of Flower Boy where he sang: “I been kissing white boys since 2004”. He told Fantastic Man that his sexuality was a “grey area”, and that “even though I’m considered loud and out there, I’m private, which is a weird dichotomy”.
Three years later, “Sorry Not Sorry“ contained the lyrics: “Sorry to the guys I had to hide/Sorry to the girls I had to lie to.”
There were also nods to queerness on Chromakopia.
In “Balloon”, which featured bi rapper Doechii, Tyler sang: “Everything real here, no lace front, OK/I doze during December, I slay/I don’t even like girls, b*tch, I’m way up too high.”
Doechii then said: “I’m a bi b*tch but I need that p*ssy now/If he is gay, then I am gay, and we are nouns.”
Also, the track “Noid” explored Tyler’s difficulty trusting a romantic partner.
Don’t Tap The Glass is available to stream now.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
