Psy Apologizes for "Inflammatory" "Dear American" Lyrics

Read the complete statement.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

“Gangnam Style” rapper Psy has issued an apology for his spot on a newly surfaced performance of N.E.X.T.’s “Dear American” from 2004. As we reported earlier today, the South Korean performer was protesting the U.S. presence in Iraq following the death of a Korean missionary by rapping lyrics such as “Kill those f*cking Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives … Kill them all slowly and painfully.”

Now, eight years and 900 million YouTube views later, Psy wants to make amends. Read the heartfelt statement in its entirety below.

"As a proud South Korean who was educated in the United States and lived there for a very significant part of my life, I understand the sacrifices American servicemen and women have made to protect freedom and democracy in my country and around the world. The song I featured on in question from eight years ago -- was part of a deeply emotional reaction to the war in Iraq and the killing of two Korean schoolgirls that was part of the overall antiwar sentiment shared by others around the world at that time.  While I’m grateful for the freedom to express one's self, I’ve learned there are limits to what language is appropriate and I’m deeply sorry for how these lyrics could be interpreted. I will forever be sorry for any pain I have caused by those words.

[via TMZ]

Latest in Music