Detroit rapper Big Sean is perhaps more famous for his relationship with singer Ariana Grande than for his music, but that has not stopped Princeton University from booking Big Sean to headline their annual lawn party. The choice of Big Sean to perform at the $60,000 a year school has not gone down well with some students.
According to My9NJ, students Duncan Hosie and Rebecca Basaldua are outraged at the choice of Big Sean to perform at the elite Ivy League school. Big Sean was booked to perform by the school’s student government, who reportedly went $15,000 over budget to secure the rapper’s services for the performance.
According to FDRMX, Hosie and Basaldua started a petition to have Big Sean removed from the event after they watched a promotional video for the event. Hosie and Basaldua were appalled by the video which features Big Sean’s song “I Don’t F*** with You.” In the song Big Sean repeats the line “Stupid A** B***h” over and over. Hosie says that after he saw the video he “started researching Big Sean’s language and I found language that was both misogynistic and homophobic.”
Hosie and Basaldua are unhappy that money from student fees is being used to book an artist like Big Sean, whose music in their view is homophobic and misogynistic, and even promotes rape and sexual assault. Basaldua accuses the student body of being naive in booking Big Sean.
“It almost seems like they never did a simple Google search of this man’s background to see his criminal convictions.”
Big Sean has been arrested for sexual assault, though the charge was dropped after he admitted an unlawful imprisonment charge.
Hosie said “as a tuition payer of Princeton University, I don’t think it’s appropriate for the school-wide-all campus concert to furthering those messages and I don’t want my money being used to further that type of individual.”
The petition started by Hosie and Basaldua has the support of over 500 Princeton students, but it seems that their objections will fall on deaf ears and will not stop Big Sean from performing.
Simon Wu, the schools social committee chairman, said that “the contracts are signed and it’s unrealistic to stop this from happening,” but he went on to say that the objections raised will help to inform the selection of artists for future events.
According to University Herald the fact that Big Sean’s performance will go ahead has not stopped posters being put up around the campus urging students to boycott the event.
Sadly, Hosie’s stand against Big Sean has led to him being subject of homophobic attacks on the schools anonymous social media app.
[Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images]