Singer and songwriter August Alsina has publicly criticized rapper Young Thug over comments the Atlanta artist previously made about gay men, adding to a broader discussion within hip-hop about sexuality, masculinity, and inclusion.
During a recent Instagram Live session, Alsina addressed remarks Young Thug made in a podcast interview in which the rapper compared a man coming out as gay after presenting himself as heterosexual to violating a “man code.”
Young Thug said at the time that he would not view such a person the same way, though he also stated that he was not opposed to LGBTQ people and noted that gay people worked for him.
According to multiple social media posts and reports circulating this week, Alsina challenged those comments, arguing that public figures should focus on larger issues rather than judging people based on their sexuality.
“The older I get… I’m not into convincing people that they’re stupid no more. Your life will show you that. Life results will show you that. But the older I get, at the same time, I am into simply saying, “That’s stupid.” Like, That’s a dumbass take. I don’t even know why this shit would even be a conversation. You think about the idea that you’re saying that you don’t respect somebody because they’re gay, or whatever, because they turned gay or whatever. Why is this shit on your mind as a man who just got out of jail by the fucking grace of God? Why?”
The exchange has drawn attention because both artists have, at different points, been part of conversations about gender expression and sexuality in hip-hop. Young Thug has long been known for fashion choices that challenged traditional expectations within the genre, including his appearance on the cover of his 2016 mixtape “Jeffery” wearing a gown. That image sparked debate about masculinity and self-expression in rap culture.
Young Thug’s past comments generated criticism from LGBTQ advocates and media outlets, which argued that equating sexuality with a breach of trust reinforced harmful stereotypes about gay and bisexual men.
Neither Young Thug nor his representatives appeared to have issued a new public response to Alsina’s remarks as of Wednesday.
