Cyrus Langhorne
Former television personality Dee Barnes has stepped forward to speak out on a publicized open apology music mogul Dr. Dre issued last week to the women he’s hurt throughout his career.
In a new open letter, Barnes questioned the real motivation behind Dre’s apology Monday (August 24).
“I understand people’s apprehension. The stakes are high now and money talks, loud. Is this is a PR move by Universal, which released Straight Outta Compton? After all, the film just crossed the $100 million mark its second weekend in theaters. Is it damage control by Apple, which can no longer ignore that if you take the “Beats by Dre” logo and remove the “S,” you get a double entendre describing several woman he just apologized to? Is Dre himself really remorseful or just saving face? To me, the answers to these questions matter less than the fact that Dre stepped up and performed his social responsibility by finally taking accountability for his actions. Who cares why he apologized? The point is that he did.” (Gawker)
Barnes also spoke out on the importance of not letting famous entertainers get away with violence.
“The hypocrisy of it all is appalling. This is bigger than me, and bigger than hip-hop. This is about respect and awareness. As a result of speaking on my personal experience with violence, I have been vilified. Women survivors of violence are expected neither to be seen nor heard, and the pressure increases when it involves celebrities. No one wants to see their heroes criticized. And if they are African American, the community at large becomes suspicious of an underlying motive to tear down a successful black man. Excusing pop culture icons from scrutiny over their history of violence against women because they are elevated to “hero” status is wrong on so many levels. Creating notable, brilliant art does not absolve you of your faults. In the past, great art was enough to exalt men of their bad behavior, but in 2015 it’s no longer the case. Survivors have a right and an obligation to speak up (#NoSilenceOnDomesticViolence). We are too loud, too correct, too numerous to be ignored.” (Gawker)
In an open statement, the Doc apologized to all females he had hurt throughout his career last week.
“Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I’ve been married for 19 years and every day I’m working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again. … I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives.” (NY Times)
Barnes recently claimed she lost out on career opportunities following the Dre early 90’s assault.
“People ask me, “How come you’re not on TV anymore?” and “How come you’re not back on television?” It’s not like I haven’t tried. I was blacklisted. Nobody wants to work with me. They don’t want to affect their relationship with Dre. I’ve been told directly and indirectly, “I can’t work with you.” I auditioned for the part that eventually went to Kimberly Elise in Set It Off. Gary was the director. This was long after Pump it Up!, and I nailed the audition. Gary came out and said, “I can’t give you the part.” I asked him why, and he said, “‘Cause I’m casting Dre as Black Sam.” My heart didn’t sink, I didn’t get emotional; I was just numb.” (Gawker)
Within a recent Rolling Stone feature, the Doc came clean on his 1991 alleged assault on Dee Barnes and ex-girlfriend Michel’le in the 1990’s.
“I made some f*cking horrible mistakes in my life,” says Dre. “I was young, f*cking stupid. I would say all the allegations aren’t true – some of them are. Those are some of the things that I would like to take back. It was really fucked up. But I paid for those mistakes, and there’s no way in hell that I will ever make another mistake like that again.” (Rolling Stone)
I question her motives writing this letter now. Is it because he just dropped an album or cuz the movie is doing so well? Why didnt anybody bring this up back when he dropped 2001 or The Chronic? Nobody gave a shit until Domestic Violence became news worthy after Ray Rice. And while we’re on the subject, why are people more outraged by black men assaulting women than we are with cops killing black men? Seems like misdirection to me.
Well said. Couldn’t have put it better.
Word. This Dre situation ain’t new, anyway. Didn’t he and Eminem joke about this in “Guilty Conscious”, which was a single and had a video. So it wasn’t like it was a hidden track. No outrage then. Temper, temper.