On Friday, Verizon Wireless announced that it was ending its association with Akon, the Senegalese crooner responsible for such hits as “Smack That,” “I Wanna Fuck You” and “Can You Guess What I Want To Put In You (Here’s A Hint: It’s My Penis).” The company not only dropped Akon from its online music store, but it also pulled out as a sponsor of his now-winding-down tour with Gwen Stefani; the decision comes in the wake of a widely seen video that purportedly shows Akon nasty-dancing with an underage girl in Trinidad. And one right-wing columnist is taking partial credit for Verizon’s decision.
Michelle Malkin has been on Akon’s case since the tape first surfaced: She printed the lyrics to Akon’s “Bananaza” in full (even though it’s hardly the bawdiest song in the singer’s oeuvre) and called for a consumer campaign against Verizon (as did Laura Ingraham). Malkin is free to protest all she wants, of course, but her stabs at music-criticism fall flat: In a videotaped rant about Akon, she constantly refers to him as a “rapper,” even though he’s much more of a vocalist (a nit-picky point, maybe, but still); she also chides such publications as The New York Times and USA Today for their critical endorsements of the singer (even though they were written months ago, and despite the fact that Akon’s musical talents have little do to with his on-stage antics). And during an appearance on The Laura Ingraham Show, she claims that Akon engages in such shenanigans “at all of he’s concerts,” a claim that’s pretty dubious, at best. We’re not saying that Malkin–whose own music taste tends toward Five For Fighting–doesn’t have the right to complain, but can’t the right get a pop-cultural commentator who actually bothers to read the liner notes? And how is she possibly going to deal with the news that Akon is teaming up for a tour with 50 Cent?
Verizon Wireless ends Akon partnership [MichelleMalkin.com]
Earlier: Akon Inspires Fierce “Love Vs. Sex” Debate On iTunes Store
What about not supporting Akon only because of his music? Now that change I could really use…
Sigh. Michelle Malkin is the same journalist who called “emo” music one of the prime influences behind teens who are “cutters.” Conservatives and pop culture references don’t mix.
Good post, Idolators. I particularly like that Malkin keeps calling him a rapper while talking over video clips of the dude singing. Interesting, too, that she calls Akon a rapper with exactly the same relish as she calls him an “animal.” Something tells me that the two words — along with another one she’s not allowed to say — are synonymous in Malkin’s world.
Ann Coulter thinks his fans are losers.
@Rory B. Bellows: Ann Coulter thinks Akon is a “faggot.”
Has anyone ever noticed that Akon is the shadiest singer? No one knows his real age (est. 25), he claims he was a member of the Fugees crew, he did 3 years for stealing a car when he was 17, his favorite band is R.E.M., and he OWNS A DIAMOND MINE. Who is this guy?
Michelle already knows.
Anyone associated with Fox News needs to learn what the fuck is going on…
@gorillavsmarykate: We need to launch an investigation.
I read the thing about how he owns a diamond mine but doesn’t want to talk about it.