James Arthur has taken to Twitter to apologise and quash rumours of homophobia due to the negative nature of his ‘diss track’ Worthless, aimed as a response to rapper Mickey Worthless’ online spat against the singer.
For what started out as an online Twitter spat, the two were embroiled in a war of words, heightened when Worthless unveiled a piece of music full of defamatory comments about the X Factor winner.
In response to the launch of the supposed ‘rap battle’, James Arthur unleashed his own Worthless track, which contained the line “You probably want to stick your dick in me, you fucking queer”.
The response has sent blogs and music critics into a storm, particularly comedian Matt Lucas, who Tweeted the following:
Fuck you @JamesArthur23 for using the phrase 'fucking queer' in your latest track. Fuck you.
— Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) November 16, 2013
However Arthur has responded apologetically to this, saying he was “Deeply deeply sorry to any gay or lesbian people out there”, before joking “Plus Rylan is one of my best mates and he is as gay as they come! #LOVE”. He also apologised directly to Matt Lucas, who both had this public conversation:
.@JamesArthur23 Thanks, James. I look forward to your new stuff. Respect to you for responding and taking it down. Let's move on.
— Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) November 16, 2013
Read the full apology below, and let us know your thoughts on the whole outburst. James is currently riding high on the UK Album Charts with his self-titled debut LP (beaten to the top spot by Eminem’s MMLP2).
I just have to say I'm extremely disappointed in myself for being so naive with the diss track I made for an unknown rapper recently..
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) November 16, 2013
Some of the things said in this rap can be mistaken for homophobic slurs and I assure you homophobia is something I do not believe in
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) November 16, 2013
I have many many gay friends. In rap feuds/rap disses the words I used have a different intent. This is a straight man I was attacking
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) November 16, 2013
A straight man who littered his track with severe homophobic slurs towards me.. Like I said though it was a rap diss ..
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) November 16, 2013
And in no way a reflection of my true character.. I've heard I've offended Matt Lucas who's work I have always admired and that is a blow.
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) November 16, 2013
Deeply deeply sorry to any gay or lesbian people out there.
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) November 16, 2013
Plus Rylan is one of my best mates and he is as gay as they come! #LOVE
— James Arthur (@JamesArthur23) November 16, 2013
Country music star Shania Twain will make her Glastonbury Festival debut later this summer, taking…
After weeks of various stage-centric line-up releases, the full 'who's-who' for this summer's Glastonbury Festival…
Fever Ray, Fatboy Slim and Alt-J have been revealed as The Park headliners for 2023…
The infamous 'Glastonbury Spider' has spoken, and following a huge amount of anticipation, the 2023…
Glastonbury Festival organisers have released the lineup of their new area - Woodsies - for…
Organisers of Shangri-La - a key cog in Glastonbury Festival's south-eastern 'naughty corner' - have…