Rapper Fats Joe has obtained backlash on social media after asserting that he owns a pair of golden high-tops from former President Donald Trump’s panned sneaker model.
The Bronx, New York, native confirmed off one of many footwear in an Instagram Dwell video that was later posted to his account Monday. The “Lean Again” rapper defended his determination to acquire the footwear, saying that he solely did so as a result of he’s a sneaker collector.
“Me, as a sneaker collector, I needed to get my hand on the Trumps,” he stated within the video, evaluating sneaker collectors to artwork collectors who might not help or pay attention to an artist’s politics.
“Hear, I’ve 1000’s and 1000’s and 1000’s of sneakers,” he stated, earlier than somebody off digicam held a Trump-branded shoe field in entrance of Fats Joe’s face.
The rapper, born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, stated within the Instagram Dwell video that regardless of having the footwear, he’s a “die-hard Democrat” and never a fan of Trump.
“I’m not a Trumper, I dislike Trump, I’m not voting for him — not now, not by no means,” stated Fats Joe, who then held one of many sneakers as much as the digicam. “However I’m a sneaker collector into the artwork, so I needed to discover these.”
The rapper later insisted that he didn’t pay for the footwear, saying that he was given a pair as a result of he’s “the most important within the recreation.”
Fats Joe has beforehand voiced his support for Democrats Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
Previous to Trump’s election in 2016, he informed MSNBC that the nation “can’t have that guy in office.”
A consultant for Fats Joe didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
Individuals on X, previously Twitter, criticized the Bronx rapper this week, with some accusing him of “promoting” the footwear linked to Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential ticket.
“We all know he a sneaker head however he didn’t have to advertise them,” one X user wrote, including that “he might have put them away in silence.”
In the meantime, an Instagram person urged below Fats Joe’s publish that the Bronx native was basically supporting Trump’s marketing campaign because it seeks to draw voters of shade.
“Don’t help his marketing campaign!!! So you may acquire a freakin sneaker???” the Instagram person wrote. “So dumb. It actually the dumb shit they give thought to us. And also you proved it true. #upset.”
Trump launched the golden sneakers, named “The By no means Give up Excessive-Tops,” for $399 — a day after a decide in New York discovered that he lied about his wealth for years. He was ordered to pay $355 million in penalties within the civil fraud verdict.
The previous president publicly unveiled the footwear at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia earlier this month.
Regardless of Trump selling the footwear, an internet site promoting the sneakers says in small print that they “will not be designed, manufactured, distributed or bought by Donald J. Trump, the Trump Group or any of their respective associates or principals.”
Trump’s shiny footwear have been mocked on “Saturday Night time Dwell” final weekend. Host Shane Gillis acted as a person who positive factors the power to make individuals imagine his shameless lies after he’s gifted the Trump-branded sneakers. (Take a look at the total “SNL” sketch under.)
