Meek Mill has apologised for filming a music video inside Ghana’s presidential palace, following backlash led by the nation’s training minister.
Last Sunday (January 8), the rapper posted a snippet of a music video for a brand new, as-yet unnamed tune on Instagram. Among different Ghanaian locales, the clip sees Mill traipse the convention halls and corridors of Jubilee House, which serves because the official house and workplace of Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo.
Meek Mill shot a video to a brand new somg whereas in Ghana🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/q9ilza0B1S
— Wave Check🌊 (@thewavecheckk) January 8, 2023
The clip – which has since been faraway from Mill’s Instagram – sparked backlash shortly after it was posted, with Ghana’s training minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa main the criticism in describing the video as a “despicable desecration of the Jubilee House”.
Ablakwa, who aired his frustrations in a tweet revealed yesterday (January 9), went on to declare that “All those responsible for [the video]… must be fired immediately.” He continued: “How do those explicit lyrics from the president’s lectern project Ghana positively? Is Ghana’s seat of government no longer a high security installation?”.
All these accountable for this despicable desecration of the Jubilee House by Meek Mill should be fired instantly.
How do these specific lyrics from the president’s lectern venture Ghana positively?
Is Ghana’s seat of presidency not a excessive safety set up? pic.twitter.com/Wwo2rbGIjl
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) January 9, 2023
In response to the backlash – which was additionally levelled by Ghanaian residents and information shops – Mill took to Twitter at the moment (January 10) to clarify that he by no means “meant to disrespect the people of Ghana”. The rapper mentioned his intentions in filming the video throughout the presidential property had been to “[display] art” and “make the connection between black people in America and Africa”.
He continued: “To the people of Ghana no video I drop is ever meant to disrespect the people of Ghana… The fastest way to make connection is thru music [sic] and I wanted to do that with displaying art… im in my 30’s from America [sic] and didn’t know much about the lifestyle here”.
To the folks of Ghana no video I drop is ever meant to disrespect the folks of Ghana …. The quickest technique to make connection is through music and I wished to try this with displaying artwork … im in my 30’s from America and didn’t know a lot concerning the way of life right here
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) January 9, 2023
My apologies to the folks if any disrespect! We nonetheless gonna push to make the connection between black folks in America and Africa … what I’m making an attempt to do is greater than a video and it is best to see coming quickly! My apologies to the the workplace additionally!
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) January 9, 2023
In a follow-up tweet, Mill provided his “apologies to the people if any disrespect [was taken]”, earlier than explicitly apologising to the Ghanaian presidential workplace. The rapper later defended Akufo-Addo, who had obtained backlash for supposedly allowing the video to be filmed, writing that the workplace won’t have recognized “it was video footage when we asked to shoot”.
I don’t assume they knew it was video footage once we requested to shoot its a small digicam and one child … in America we didn’t know this existed and was excited to indicate as a result of they don’t present Ghana on our media a lot! So I’ll take accountability for my mistake! Not intentional https://t.co/obDZb9Czu5
— MeekMill (@MeekMill) January 9, 2023
Meek Mill concluded the thread with a remaining apology and clarification, writing that “in America we didn’t know this existed and was excited to show because they don’t show Ghana on our media much! So I’ll take responsibility for my mistake! Not intentional”.
Mill’s since-deleted Instagram publish promised that the tune would quickly be launched, nonetheless it’s but to look on the rapper’s streaming service pages. Mill’s final studio album, ‘Expensive Pain’, arrived in October, 2021, adopted by the mixtape ‘Flamers 5’ late final 12 months.
Around that very same time, Mill was considered one of many musicians to attend the digital signing of the Decriminalising Artistic Expression Act, which prevents using rap lyrics in legal prosecutions and was enshrined into Californian legislation final October. Mill was joined on the signing by Killer Mike, E-40 and Ty Dolla $ign, amongst others.