Rick Ross Releases Statement Apologizing For Controversial Lyric

Rick Ross received a lot of criticism for his lyrics on Rocko’s ‘U.O.E.N.O (You ain’t even know It)‘ and then ended up losing his partnership with Reebok for not handling the situation well. Today, the MMG boss has issued an official statement apologizing for his choice of words on the song. Read it after the jump. Too late or is this enough?

I want to thank Reebok Classics for their hard work and dedication over this past year.Good partners,good shoe.continued success.

— Mastermind (@rickyrozay) April 12, 2013

“Before I am an artist, I am a father, a son, and a brother to some of the most cherished women in the world. So for me to suggest in any way that harm and violation be brought to a woman is one of my biggest mistakes and regrets. As an artist, one of the most liberating things is being able to paint pictures with my words. But with that comes a great responsibility. And most recently, my choice of words was not only offensive, it does not reflect my true heart. And for this, I apologize. To every woman that has felt the sting of abuse, I apologize. I recognize that as an artist I have a voice and with that, the power of influence. To the young men who listen to my music, please know that using a substance to rob a woman of her right to make a choice is not only a crime, it’s wrong and I do not encourage it. To my fans, I also apologize if I have disappointed you. I can only hope that this sparks a healthy dialogue and that I can contribute to it.”

—William Roberts (a.k.a “Rick Ross”)