TI apologizes after saying female president would 'make rash decisions'

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/13/ti-vote-woman-president-hillary-clinton

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She may have received the endorsement of rappers including Ja Rule, 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg – along with Pharrell Williams, who came out in her support on Tuesday – but one musician definitely won’t be voting for Hillary Clinton should she become the Democratic candidate for president of the US.

In remarks for which he subsequently apologized, TI, trap music pioneer, novelist and actor, said that he believes women are too prone to rash decisions to be suitable for the job of US commander-in-chief. In an interview with American hip-hop DJ Whoo Kid, TI said:

Not to be sexist but I can’t vote for the leader of the free world to be a woman. Just because, every other position that exists, I think a woman could do well. But the president? It’s kinda like, I just know that women make rash decisions emotionally – they make very permanent, cemented decisions – and then later, it’s kind of like it didn’t happen, or they didn’t mean for it to happen. And I sure would hate to just set off a nuke.

In a statement which suggested he was unfamiliar with such figures as Angela Merkel, TI added that having a female president would have an impact on other world leaders, who “will not be able to negotiate the right kinds of foreign policy; the world ain’t ready yet”.

He concluded: “I think you might be able to get the Loch Ness monster elected before you could [get a woman].”

Related: Pharrell Williams endorses Clinton: 'It's time for a woman' to be president

Twitter immediately erupted in disapproval, with many pointing out that TI has not always managed to control his own emotions. The rapper has served two jail sentences and been arrested multiple times on drugs, assault and weapons charges. However, having served his time, he is eligible to vote in Georgia, his home state.

The rapper then backtracked, saying: “My comments about women running for president were unequivocally insensitive and wrong. I sincerely apologize to everyone I offended.”

My comments about women running for president were unequivocally insensitive and wrong. I sincerely apologize to everyone I offended.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton will be participating in the first Democratic debate on Tuesday night.