ATLANTA — Atlanta rapper and political activist Killer Mike has been taking a lot of heat from people across social media for his stance on gun control over the past several weeks.
The most notable criticism coming after his appearance on the NRA's radio program where he discussed his own feelings on gun control in the United States and his opposition to the marches around the nation in the wake of the Parkland high school shootings.
On Sunday, after MSNBC television host Joy Ann Reid posted an image on Instagram thanking her hair and makeup team for preparing her for an upcoming photo shoot, Killer Mike -- apparently misunderstood the text in the caption, which used the beauty industry term "H&M," referring to "hair and makeup."
A post shared by Joy-Ann Reid (@joyannreid) on
Mike took it as referring to the international retailer H&M, which has had its own set of challenges relating to a racially offensive ad campaign several months ago.
"So me doing an interview about black gun ownership with the NRA is "bad," but you promoting a company that tagged a black child a monkey is "good," "cool," and "acceptable". Ok check. Smh n***as...." -- Killer Mike via Twitter
Reid responded and explained the misunderstanding in the term.
“H&M” stands for “hair and makeup,” Mike. The two women beside me in this pic did my hair (H) and makeup (M) for a shoot. The blouse I’m wearing is by @norisolferrari and I doubt you can buy it at the retail chain you’re thinking of. (I got it from the designer via a stylist.) And here I was thinking you were an intellectual, and not just the guy who hangs out in the sunken place talking guns with the NRA’s “official black guy” who literally changed his last name to “black.”
Viewers on Twitter very quickly saw Reid's response, and began to respond in-kind, but many of their responses were not very kind.
Mike deleted his initial tweet and responded with a "my bad." Apparently, a producer for Reid's show talked with Mike, who agreed to appear on her show to discuss black gun ownership at a future date, so that conversation will, indeed happen in the televised form.
