During a post-Grammy nominations press conference (Hall presented the Best New Artist nominees), the late night comic addressed recent comments made by the Yeezus rapper during an interview on Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, in which implied that Hall was forced off the air by white corporate bosses.
“I could use my voice but what’d happen if y’all don’t buy no other albums? … People gonna say ‘Oh he like Arsenio Hall and he was turning up to much and now you fired.’ But when you got money can’t nobody fire you,” Kanye said.
Hall took issue with Kanye’s claims, insisting that he left his show voluntarily. After admonishing Kanye for not knowing the facts, the usually light-hearted comedian showed a flash of anger and alluded to the rap star’s reference to slaves in a pop song.
“I hate the word slave used in songs. Get the f**k out of here. Do you know what that word is? Do you know what that word is all about? Nobody can use slave in pop culture. If you in the music business you should not f**k with that word. Too serious an error, too serious a problem in America,”Arsenio said. “There is no one that is free to move around this country that should use the word slave. Do you know what it meant to slaves?”
