Jay-Z is clearing the air after petitioners encouraged him to cut ties with the cothing company Barneys New York after it was accused of racial profiling.
According to the New York Daily News, the rapper decided to address the issue on Saturday by posting on his website.
The hip hop mogul expressed that his deal with the clothing company is purely for charity and that he wanted to have all of the information before he made a decision.
"I move and speak based on facts and not emotion," he wrote. "I haven't made any comments because I am waiting on facts and the outcome of a meeting between community leaders and Barneys. Why am I being demonized, denounced and thrown on the cover of a newspaper for not speaking immediately?"
Jay-Z, who’s real name is Shawn Carter, then went on to speak about the collaboration being for charity and the Shawn Carter Foundation.
"This collaboration lives in a place of giving and is about the Foundation," Carter said. "I am not making a dime from this collection; I do not stand to make millions, as falsely reported. I need to make that fact crystal clear."
The Shawn Carter Foundation, which helps needy students earn scholarships for their education, would receive 25 percent of all sales from the clothing deal. In addition, Barneys New York would also make a donation and 10 percent of sales generated on November 20th would also be donated.
"This money is going to help individuals facing socio-economic hardships to help further their education at institutions of higher learning," Jay-Z continued. "My idea was born out of creativity and charity…not profit."
E! Online reports that Jay-Z was first criticized for collaborating with Barneys when the company was accused of racially profiling two African Americans, Trayon Christian and Kayla Phillips.
Christian sued Barneys after he was arrested in New York City after a Barneys’s sales clerk contacted police because she believed the $350 transaction was fraudulent. 21-year-old Phillips also filed a notice of claim against Barneys after she was accused of using a fraudulent card to buy a $2,500 Celine handbag.
A petition was then started on Change.org by “lifelong Jay-Z fan” Derick Bowers to get the rap mogul’s attention and hopefully get him to cut ties with the clothing company.
"The negligent, erroneous reports and attacks on my character, intentions, and the spirit of this collaboration have forced me into a statement I didn't want to make without the full facts," Jay Z said. "Making a decision prematurely to pull out of this project, wouldn't hurt Barneys or Shawn Carter, but all the people that stand a chance at higher education."
In the end, Jay-Z expressed that, “Hopefully this brings forth a dialogue to effect real change.”
Jay-Z’s collaboration with Barneys New York will appear in select stores across the country starting November 20th.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.