CW: This article contains descriptions of homophobic and transphobic language.
Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazz made headlines back in February when he posted a transphobic Instagram video about Zaya Wade, shortly after Dwyane Wade made public that his daughter was gender non-conforming. Though he still has yet to apologize for his vitriol, he recently had to defend his comments in front of Mike Tyson, who grilled Boosie as to why he felt the need to criticize Zaya and queer people at large.
In a new episode of his podcast Hotboxin with Mike Tyson, the retired boxer didn’t mince any words when confronting Boosie about his queerphobia.
“Why do you say things about people who might be a homosexual? Why do you say that about them?” Tyson asks in the video. He continues, “Do you feel there’s a possibility that you’re a homosexual and by disrespecting them it furthers yourself from being a homosexual?” See the interaction below around the six minute mark.
Though Tyson seems to be on the side of the Wade family, his line of questioning is extremely misguided. Though internalized homophobia is very much real, Tyson seems to be implying that all homophobes are secretly closeted — which is a pretty dangerous myth. Also, he keeps on only saying “homosexuals,” even though Zaya’s gender identity is separate from her sexual orientation.
After Boosie replies, “I’m straight as an arrow,” Tyson backtracks and clarifies that he wasn’t trying to say that Boosie was gay. “If you’re straight then why do you offend people?” Tyson then asks.
Continuing to misgender Zaya, Boosie says that he was “offended” by Zaya coming out because she is a “child” and using her correct pronouns was somehow “going too far.” Tyson even admits that he “100%” agreed with Boosie’s stance, but then retorts, “But check this out: Who the f**k am I to say anything? What I think don’t mean a motherf**king thing… Who are you to make a comment on somebody’s life?”
“I’ve put some scary shit out there because I’m afraid,” Tyson later says, implying that he’s said problematic things as a result of his own fear and insecurities.
Though Boosie at one point admits that he sometimes needs to “shut the f*ck up,” he ultimately doubles down on his transphobic comments and never makes an explicit apology to Zaya or the Wade Family. The interaction is a bit of a mess (after all, the whole premise of the podcast is that they’re hotboxing weed in the studio), but at least Tyson tried to get Boosie to see the error of his ways, albeit through bungled language.
In his February Instagram video, the rapper misgendered Zaya multiple times and made explicit retorts and derogatory comments about gender confirmation surgery — although the Wade family has never once mentioned that Zaya plans to transition medically. The video sparked online backlash against Boosie and allegedly got him banned from a Planet Fitness location. He has since admitted that his own mom scolded him for the comments and told him to stay out of other people’s business.
Despite his ignorance, the Wade family has been thriving ever since Zaya came out. Dwyane and his wife Gabrielle Union have been praised for embracing their trans kid and were even recently featured in the Time 100 list for their advocacy. So, maybe Boosie should start listening to his mama.
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