Talking Heads Musician David Byrne Apologizes For 1984 Blackface Video

BY Erika Marie 1201 Views
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David Byrne, Blackface, Spike Lee, Talking Heads
The famed musician's Broadway show has been turned into a film directed by Spike Lee & after a journalist asked him about his video, Byrne decided to address it publicly.

No one is safe from Cancel Culture, including David Byrne. The 68-year-old celebrated musician is issuing an apology over a 1984 promotional video for his iconic group Talking Heads. According to Deadline, David Byrne's Broadway show American Utopia has found a new home on HBO. The network will air American Utopia in October as a film directed by Spike Lee, and while Byrne was speaking with a journalist, he was asked about his thoughts on wearing Blackface over 35 years ago.

Gareth Cattermole / Staff / Getty Images

David Byrne decided to address his controversial moment on Twitter where he stated that in the promotional video, he dressed up as various characters as he interviewed himself. "Some of the characters portrayed are people of color," he wrote, adding that he'd since just forgotten about the video altogether.

"To watch myself in the various characters, including black and brown face, I acknowledge it was a major mistake in judgement that showed a lack of real understanding. It’s like looking in a mirror and seeing someone else- you’re not, or were not, the person you thought you were," Byrne said. "We have huge blind spots about ourselves- well, I certainly do. I’d like to think I am beyond making mistakes like this, but clearly at the time I was not. Like I say at the end of our Broadway show American Utopia “I need to change too”..and I believe I have changed since then."

Check out the aforementioned video and read through Byrne's full statement below.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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