Rapper Boosie Badazz sat down for a lengthy conversation with Mike Tyson and got schooled by the boxer after he made disparaging remarks about queer people. Using some twisted logic, Boosie then pivoted to attacking/misgendering Zaya Wade, a 13-year-old child.
Now, before we praise Tyson, a convicted rapist who was sent to prison in 1992 after he was found guilty of raping an 18-year-old, let’s make one thing clear: you should probably not be turning to a man who bit off Evander Holyfield‘s ear for advice on civility. We’re happy this conversation happened, but it needs to be framed in a way that doesn’t erase Tyson’s past.
Boosie Badazz spoke with Mike Tyson for a lengthy conversation as part of the boxer’s ‘Hotboxin’ with Mike’ podcast.
In the talk, Tyson rightly called out the “Nasty Nasty” singer for his past comments about gay people. The rapper replied, “A lot of the times, I need to shut the f*ck up.”
“So why don’t you?” Tyson followed. “Do you feel there’s a possibility that you’re a homosexual and by disrespecting [gay people], it furthers yourself from being homosexual?”
After saying he’s “straight as an arrow,” Boosie brought up Dwyane Wade‘s daughter Zaya, who is trans.
“I really commented on the Dwyane Wade situation because I got offended because it’s a child. If it was a motherf*ckin’ 19-year-old, 18-year-old grown person, I wouldn’t have said nothing,” he said before launching an insult. “I felt like a child at 12 can’t make that decision. That’s just how I feel. I just feel like that was going too far you calling ‘him’ a ‘her.'”
It wasn’t the first time the singer has used anti-trans rhetoric. Boosie took to Instagram to criticize Wade’s support of his daughter’s transition in February. “Dwyane Wade, you’ve gone too f*cking far dog,” he said in a video. “That is a male. A 12-year-old.” His comments are hateful and were the reason Tyson asked Boosie about the topic.
“I agree with you, right, but check this out: Who the f*ck am I to say anything? What I think don’t mean a motherf*ckin’ thing,” Tyson said in response.
“Who the f*ck are we to make a comment about somebody else’s life?” Tyson continued. “Who are you? What happened to you that you think you’re somebody who can make a comment about somebody else’s life? I used to think I could make a comment about somebody else’s life.”
“My mama said the same thing,” the rapper replied. “That ‘Who am I to make a comment about somebody else’s child?’ But I said it, and I stand on what I said.”
“Really? F*ck,” Mike replied. “I realized about myself, sometimes I have to say, ‘F*ck, I’m wrong.'”
Dwyane Wade was asked about the discussion between Boosie and Tyson on ‘Central Ave.’
“What did you think about Mike Tyson defending your family when he spoke up?” Julissa Bermudez asked Wade.
“I actually talked to Mike about that earlier in the pandemic,” he said. “We had a conversation and I appreciated it.”
“He’s someone who’s learned from this journey of life. He’s one of those people — he’s so smart, he’s so educated and knowledgeable about life, and for him to drop that nugget on the world, to me, it was great to hear him say that.”
“I understand everyone has their own path, their own journey, toward accepting things,” Wade continued.
“So I’ve never come out and said anything to anyone that feels a certain way about me or someone else in my family because they don’t know us, they don’t know our heart,” he added. “They definitely don’t know Zaya. All I do is what my mama say, just pray for them.”
Dywane Wade continues to be a shining example of how to support and love your children. He also proved that he’s above the rest by taking the high road in this instance.
The language used by Boosie reinforces people’s hate which leads to violence. Sadly, in 2020, we’ve seen the most violent year on record for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals.
When Tyson called out Boosie, he did the right thing. People must be corrected and their ignorance must not be tolerated. A person’s gender expression is not up for debate as it’s a personal journey for everyone. Who is Zaya Wade hurting by living her most authentic life?
Mamas Uncut is THE online place for moms. We cover the latest about motherhood, parenting, and entertainment as well – all with a mom-focused twist. So if you're looking for parenting advice from real parents, we have plenty of it, all for moms from moms, and also experts. Because, at the end of the day, our mission is focused solely on empowering moms and moms-to-be with the knowledge and answers they’re looking for in one safe space.