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John Mayer 'Loves Black Women,' Offends Everyone

By Brooke Tarnoff Posted Feb 10th 2010 07:44PM

Right about now, John Mayer is surely wishing he'd used his mouth for a little more singing and a little less candid chatter. Mayer has taken heat today for some crude remarks made in a new Playboy interview. Among other overshares, the singer told the magazine that ex-girlfriend Jessica Simpson was his "sexual napalm."

"That girl is like crack cocaine to me," Mayer said.

But if you think it's in poor taste to discuss the particulars of his sex life with Simpson, buckle up -- it gets worse. A casual inclusion of the 'N' word has launched a flurry of Twitter-apologies, but here at PopEater, we think the racial slur was just the tip of the inappropriate iceberg. After the jump, we look at what Mayer said and why his apology falls short.

The singer boasted, "I come on very strong. I am a very... I'm just very. V-E-R-Y. And if you can't handle very, then I'm a douche bag. But I think the world needs a little very. That's why black people love me."

Asked to clarify his definition of "very," Mayer made the unfortunate word choice: "Someone asked me the other day, 'What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?' And by the way, it's sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a n**** pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, 'I can't really have a hood pass' I've never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, 'We're full.'"

Mayer used his Twitter page to offer a series of apologies, writing: "Re: using the 'N word' in an interview: I am sorry that I used the word. And it's such a shame that I did because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit of the word itself. It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using it, because I realize that there's no intellectualizing a word that is so emotionally charged."

He continued, "And while I'm using today for looking at myself under harsh light, I think it's time to stop trying to be so raw in interviews. It started as an attempt to not let the waves of criticism get to me, but it's gotten out of hand and I've created somewhat of a monster. I wanted to be a blues guitar player. And a singer. And a songwriter. Not a shock jock. I don't have the stomach for it."

Mayer concluded, "Because I don't want anyone to think I'm equivocating: I should have never said the word and I will never say it again."

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Mayer Takes on Race in a More Appropriate Context With Dave Chappelle

We're not certain we buy the excuse that Mayer has been too relaxed in interviews -- we've had any number of casual conversations without throwing around racial epithets -- but we appreciate Mayer's attempt at sincerity. What we don't appreciate is his failure to address any of his other, equally offensive words.

Mayer told Playboy that he has not been open to the sexual advances of the black women who so adore him: "My d*** is sort of like a white supremacist. I've got a Benetton heart and a f*****' David Duke c***. I'm going to start dating separately from my d***."

It's not, he insisted, that black women aren't attractive -- especially if they act white.

"Every white dude loved Hilary from 'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.' Kerry Washington. She's superhot, and she's also white-girl crazy," he said. "Kerry Washington would break your heart like a white girl. Just all of a sudden she'd be like, 'Yeah, I sucked his d***. Whatever.' And you'd be like, 'What? We weren't talking about that.'"

"Edgy" is Mayer's bread and butter in interviews. Just last week, the singer was quoted by the New York Post as saying, "When I get married that's gonna be my vows, 'Do you, John Mayer, take this woman to have and to hold, to wear her ass like headgear?' Yes, I do -- you're the one whose ass I wanna wear like a hat for the rest of my life."

In an interview with Rolling Stone in January, Mayer introduced his views on the kind of woman he'd settle down with. "You need to have them be able to go toe-to-toe with you intellectually. But don't they also have to have a vagina you could pitch a tent on and just camp out on for, like, a weekend? The Joshua Tree of vaginas? ... I'll be happy when I close out this life-partner thing. Think of how much mental capacity I'm using to meet the right person so I can stop giving a f--- about it."

After musing on whether the Rolling Stone piece might have gone too far, Mayer tweeted, "I say 'f--- it.' You can't go wrong if you tell the truth."

So was the Playboy interview an ambitious attempt-gone-awry by the man who dubbed himself "the new generation of masturbator" to break his own record of irreverence? Or did Mayer, at his most "raw," betray something uglier than we could have suspected in all of his previous "shock jock" interviews?

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Wednesday 10 February

By Sage

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Mayer should keep his yap shut or just stick to the lyrics. But you have to say, he's an equal opportunity offender.

Wednesday 10 February

By No Mayer on mine please

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I totally agree. The guy is definitely the strogest candidate ever for douchebag of the year. He'll screw anyting in his path, which I believe also included horses, dogs, cats, lizards, and of course, Jessica Simpson. I'll be he's a lousy lay too since you never hear the woman say anything about him...

Wednesday 10 February

By Jon

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Well John Your Racist D*** just hurt your future album sales a whole lot.

Wednesday 10 February

By MandiP

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So...um...when is it that we have to beliveve PLAYBOY interviews for ANY journalistic basis these days? You may wish to ask yourself: what were the questions asked of him to give such answers. Good Gosh!

Thursday 11 February

By bazel

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John Mayer "Only opens his mouth to change feet".

He is a pig. Any woman who tangles with him after this, deserves what they get... they've been duly warned.

Thursday 11 February

By crumbs444

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so his wang is a white supremacist? since men think with their wang exactly what is he saying?

Thursday 11 February

By Heather

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I am the last person in the world to use that word and it isn't right for anyone to use that word. But he did, I don't think he ment to use it in a racist way. We all give words too much emotion. Sometimes words are just words and you actually have to consider the context in which they are used. He did not use the word in a racial way. Just because someone other than an African American used the word does not automatically make it a racist remark. We often find our selves agreeing with what is popular and not actually thinking about what is really going on. This is one band wagon I don't agree with on either end.

Thursday 27 May

By Dee

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Wake up!! This man is a racist & the things he said are very offensive. I admit i liked him until I read this & now he he makes me sick. I am a white woman ( 1/2 irish & 1/2 Italian ) with bi racial children & its discusting to think that my children are still going to be subject to racism in this day in age.

Wednesday 10 February

By bcat79

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Ugh! Mayer's ego is too big for his own good. In a strange way, he seems to be trying to appear as an intellectual. We're not impressed.

Thursday 11 February

By gonzo1

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for those who are calling him a racist , remember that the next time a black dude starts running his liver-lipped mouth about white people , you know like calling whites red-necks , crackers , and hillbillies . it's not so f#%king funny when the tables are turned , IS IT . so don't be offended if you're going to offend.

Wednesday 10 February

By Stephanie

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So let me get this straight....this idiot actually had to drop the N-word in an interview with Playboy and experience the backlash in order to find out that it's not an appropriate word for anyone to use? And he can't get it up for black girls? Not that I needed even more reasons not to like him but he certainly came through for me. John, as one of the black people you say love you and have given you a pass, let me tell you you can't be more wrong. Please consider said pass revoked.

Wednesday 10 February

By arizonaoso

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Outstanding!!!! He is a first rate loser, and you could not have said it better Steph, thank you.

Thursday 11 February

By nyl55nyl

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Stephanie, Amen to that... From another Black woman, John Mayer is an idiot suffering from a severe case of foot in mouth disease. He is NOT respectful of ANY woman and is certainly no gentleman!!!

Thursday 11 February

By Andie

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I agree. As a black woman who used to be a fan of john's,I can't say that I could have been any more offended.This shows that just because he's creative, it doesn't mean that he's intelligent or open-minded.I hope he really DOES quit music and stays at home thumping his little guitar from now on.

Thursday 11 February

By stefanie

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ick. ooh. yuck. never was a fan and now i know why.

Saturday 13 February

By Carolyn Stone

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I agree with you Stephanie. I have never cared for John Mayer and this recent interview exposes his character in a most unflattering light. He thinks he is funny but he is only ignorant.

Tuesday 16 February

By ThatBaby63

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Stephanie -Amen! Amen! I wouldn't purchase another cd, album or anything of his for the rest of my life! And his african-american back-up singers need to ditch his arse!

Wednesday 10 February

By Karen

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What a douche bag! I see nothing attractive about this man in the least.

Wednesday 10 February

By Yaya

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Speaking of diarrhea of the mouth- Mayer should not only stick to the lyrics but totally shut the F--k up!

Thursday 11 February

By bazel

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You're right, the dude's TOTALLY REMOVED ALL DOUBT ABOUT HOW HE IS A TOTAL AND UTTER NARCISSISTIC MORON WITH AN APPARENT SEX ADDICTION. Jen tell us you didn't know this while you were seeing him... ewwww :(

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