Lil Yachty Believes The Black Lives Matter Foundation Is A 'Scam,' Here's Why
Lil Yachty did not mince words when giving his opinion on the Black Lives Matter organization during a recent appearance on Quenlin Blackwell's Feeding Starving Celebrities YouTube series.
In the quirky interview, Yachty was asked how much he'd spent on charitable causes over the year, to which the host mentioned the Black Lives Matter foundation specifically. 'BLM? Since you want to be so Black power,' Blackwell quipped around the 31:51 mark of the conversation. Without hesitation, Yachty responded, 'BLM is a scam.'
Further expressing his thoughts on the movement, he added, 'BLM was literally a scam. They had bought mansions.' Yachty appeared to be alluding to allegations surrounding the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's finances. In 2022, reports surfaced that the organization had purchased a $6,000,000 compound in Los Angeles' Studio City neighborhood, raising concerns amongst donors and critics of the movement alike.
Co-founder Patrisse Cullors clarified to the Associated Press that the property — featuring six bedrooms, a swimming pool, a soundstage, and office space — was intended to serve as a creative hub and meeting space for Black artists and activists. 'We really wanted to make sure that the global network foundation had an asset that wasn't just financial resources,' she explained. 'And we understood that not many Black-led organizations have property. They don't own their property.'
Despite her explanations, the purchase stirred up controversy, with some supporters fearing it could create distrust with the organization's financial transparency. Cullors acknowledged that the property had been used twice for personal purposes, but insisted there was no wrongdoing.
She also pushed back against accusations that she had misused funds for personal gain. 'The idea that (the foundation) received millions of dollars and then I hid those dollars in my bank account is absolutely false,' she stated. 'That's a false narrative. It's impacted me personally and professionally, that people would accuse me of stealing from Black people.'
Cullors stepped down as the foundation's executive director in 2021.
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