Michael B. Jordan offered an apology for the name of his new rum brand and said he would change it, after rapper Nicki Minaj claimed Caribbean residents would find it “offensive.”
“I just wanna say on behalf of myself & my partners, our intention was never to offend or hurt a culture (we love & respect) & hoped to celebrate & shine a positive light on,” the “Creed” star wrote on Instagram Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Trinidadian-born Minaj accused him of cultural appropriation for naming his new business venture after a festival the country has been celebrating annually since the mid-1800s, when slaves were emancipated.
The rum brand was advertised as being “derived from the Antillean Creole French term meaning ‘daybreak,’ J’OUVERT originated in the pre-dawn streets of Trinidad, as a celebration of emancipation combined with Carnival season to serve as the festival informal commencements.”
“Crafted on those same islands,” the promotion continued. “J’OUVERT Rum is a tribute to the party start.” But Minaj suggested that Jordan change the name before the party gets in full swing.
“I’m sure MBJ didn’t intentionally do anything he thought Caribbean ppl would find offensive— but now that you are aware, change the name & continue to flourish & prosper,” Minaj captioned on Instagram beside a brief history of the festival.
The post explains that the twenty-four-hour street parade spread throughout the Caribbean as enslaved populations of other islands were eventually emancipated.
Jordan chose to heed Minaj’s warning and rename the company, though no new moniker has been announced yet. “We hear you,” he responded. “I hear you [and] want to be clear that we are in the process of renaming. We sincerely apologize [and] look forward to introducing a brand we can all be proud of.
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OMG! What an unmitigated tragedy and a complete degradation of timeless tradition. Oh the humanity.
Sarcasm, right?
What is a ‘Minaj’? And why is MJ bowing down ‘it’?
Who gives a flying crap what this low IQ loser Minaj thinks. She is a total loser. Michael can name his product anything he wants.
He evidently has no balls. Low IQ? I bet her IQ can’t even be measured. No class POS just like Teagen.
You’d think, but angry woman beats down fearful man
Humanity is getting dumber by the day.
NO….NOT humanity….just some elements of it
WOW! All you WOKE SOB’s better stop breathing because your offending someone. Nothing is given a pass for anything any more. I’m offended because your offended and I am sick of being offended by YOU. So please stop breathing and be permanently WOKE!. Thanks You. You clowns are a total joke. Your worse than a blind dog chasing their tail. The dog will give up after a while but you clowns keep right on running into the bottomless pit of stupid. Of which there is no return. Why do you think the place the name came from would be mad about it. They might be thrilled to be recognized for something.
You can’t fix stupid. These two are very stupid to think anyone cares. There’s enough booze out there.Another makes no difference.
Hey moron, what ever you name it I’m sure you will offend someone.Just dont make the product then everyone isn’t offended .Grow up for God sake.
No I would not have changed the name of it.!!! DO NOT LIKE IT. DO NOT DRINK IT.
To The Pissed Off Ametican. THANK YOU. COULD NOT HAVE SAID ANY BETTER THEN THAT.!!!
It’s named after an emancipation celebration. How is that offensive?
Does anyone give a damn?
Whatever he renames it is sure to offend someone. I guess he should just go out of business.
Black Panther Rum then OK
These awipes will never be happy….yes she is one. I wonder if she has called out Harris for being a decedent of a SLAVE master her grandfather in Jamaica. Oh NO, she gets a pass where the Italian, Irish and others who came over to the USA AFTER slavery are called racist.
How about “Pu**y Wipped Swill”
Woke aholes
When will people quit apologizing for doing anything and everything? Live and let live!!
To follow the PC guidelines he needs to name Michael B. Jordan Alcohol Product. Call DC and Cleveland professional sports teams for helpful hints on marketing the new name.
They scream and accuse until the targets jump through hoops to prove that the angry ones have power to manipulate the mind and control the body of the fearful
Nikki Minaj would rather have us all forget abolition in the Caribbean so she can do a virtue signaling publicity event. Michael B. Jordan should change the name back to honor a great event!
Well that’s the state of our world . Everything is political even the name of a “RUM”. Somehow the name triggers old memories of slavery and racism.
The accuser had to be waiting in a dark alley for her chance to remind us all of past sins in our worlds history.
I would have answered “so the people are ashamed of their history, culture and celebration? Or are you appropriating the copywrited name my company has taken pains to create and advertise, which at the same time raises awareness of a poito-cultural event in your country that helped shape destiny and who you are as a people. No, it is you who do not understand the value of this name to even yourselves.”
Then I would raise marketing even HIGHER and include the cultural story on every bottle.
Done deal and screw their attitude. Had a local created the name and manufacturing and distribution, no one would have said a thing. Screw Minaj.
Oh no! Another scumbag is upset. Minaj? Meghann THE Stallion, Cardi B all scum and their “music” terrible and talentless. Why people back down to these worthless humans is just weird.