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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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Friday 12 February

By lagrits

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What area do you live in that children are using racist terms? In today's society the young people don't see color and they get along very well. I am jealous of the younger folks because they overlook each other color differences. Although the younger generation lack many other values and I fear for the next generation, this is definitely one thing the older generation should learn from them.

Wednesday 10 February

By Rapture

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Wow, what a tard. I hope he does not need the money his black fans spend on his cd's. I hope they have the good judgement to keep it in their pockets from now on. And I hope other celebs will jump out of his dating pool. What a dumbass.....

Friday 12 February

By Denise

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I really think that is is a RIDICULO guy trying to be nice, but sometime they cannot hold too long, sooner or later they show who they are. You need learn how to respect others.I think he need a MIRROR at home. You never will be successuful! You know why? Because you are racist and people doesn't like that. Learn how to respect others.

Wednesday 10 February

By Lisa

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A lot of people use the N word. Nobody cares if John Mayer said it. I could care less. I'm sick of hearing black people say whatever they want and nobody cares and white people have to be held to a different standard? No me and none of the people I know. In private white people talk about black people all the time and say things we don't say to them. I'm not attracted to black people, they don't have to be attracted to white people. Say what you want people and stop the stupidity of political correctness.

Wednesday 10 February

By I hate dumb people

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Lisa, FYI black people talk sh@t about white people in private also. Get over yourself.

Thursday 11 February

By who cares

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Who cares what this ragedy looking, unattractive, dirty looking white man has to say about black women, really......he is not my "type" either, really, do you see black women lined up to be with white men anyway? enuff said

Monday 15 February

By annie86

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Apparently people do care that he used the word otherwise it wouldn't be an issue. While many black people do use the n-word, many do not and speak out against it publicly and privately. The interview in question was not a private conversation, which is why he is being publicly excoriated.

Wednesday 10 February

By Connie

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sad John, S=A=D , nobody cares

Wednesday 10 February

By JoyRptr

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"Colored guy"? Are you for real? You need to read the story again, my friend. It's not about it being wrong to date a "colored female". (Jesus, I can't even type that without feeling like a tool......)

Wednesday 10 February

By JoyRptr

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Nah, dealing with people like you has been punishment enough.

Wednesday 10 February

By playaqua

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LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday 10 February

By Roncowilk

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I just hope Taylor Swift sees through this guy and stays aways from him. HE IS BAD NEWS!

Wednesday 10 February

By Jean Shonay

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smoking too mush kush. that's his problem. I don't believe he's racist, he's just never wanted to have sex with a black woman. He just doesn't know any better. The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice.

Wednesday 10 February

By J

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Is there *anyone* left who can stand this guy?

Wednesday 10 February

By peter

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an infantile ass. does he need to ruin jessica simpson, black chicks, and edify the greek schnazz just to show he is cool? screw him. he not cool

Wednesday 10 February

By Mike

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with your ugly words you must be too ugly to get a date.

Wednesday 10 February

By Lita

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Mayer should just keep his mouth shut. His reference to the incredibly stupid "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" didn't help much. Anyone who watched it noticed the double standard in the way that the Will character berated Carlton for not being "black enough" (whatever the hell that means), but never criticized Hillary for the same offense. So what it all boils down to is a tacky man making reference to a tacky show to justify someting tacky that he said. In a word, he's tacky.

Wednesday 10 February

By Smurf

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Black women are not attractive in many white and black mens eyes. Dave Chapelle is the biggest racist jigg on the planet. His content is always aimed to belittle whites and is very offensive.

Wednesday 10 February

By I hate dumb peole

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So does that mean all white women are attractive? Let's be honest the average white woman you see on a daily basis isn't that attractive either.

Wednesday 10 February

By Ab

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what a douche!! I wouldn't listen to his crappy music if you paid me -

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