John Mayer has apologized for using a racial slur — the "N word" — in his controversial Playboy interview.
Via three 140-character Tweets, Mayer writes:
"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."
In his Playboy talk, Mayer said "black people love me" and that he had a "n***** pass." His full quote (in which he discusses whether he's a "douche bag") from the Q&A is below:
"MAYER: My two biggest hits are 'Your Body Is a Wonderland' and 'Daughters.' If you think those songs are pandering, then you'll think I'm a douche bag. It's like 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.
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PLAYBOY: Because you're very?
MAYER: 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."
About a half an hour later on Twitter, Mayer added to his apology: "I think it's time to stop trying to be so raw in interviews…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. Again, 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."
