News

Tegan Quin On Tyler, The Creator

8:14 p.m. · November 8, 2011 · by David Padula

In the wake of Odd Future being taken off a festival bill and having one member, Left Brain, face legal action over allegedly slapping a photographer, Tegan Quin (of Tegan and Sara) was asked about her feelings in regards to OF figurehead Tyler, the Creator. The rapper's music, medium and message were previously the focus of an open letter written by Saran Quin, Tegan's sister and bandmate; the piece, titled A Call for Change, wondered, "When will misogynistic and homophobic ranting and raving result in meaningful repercussions in the entertainment industry?"

In a recent interview with Spinner, Tegan talked about double-standards, slurs and how the music industry should be ashamed of itself for supporting Tyler and his group. She compares Tyler's use of 'faggot' to "baseball players and basketball players and hockey players being fined" for saying the same thing. Tyler, of course, isn't under the same legal constraints that may bind members of MLB, NBA and the NHL.

Tegan is talking about language, fair treatment and decency, but her argument--which never mentions free speech--comes off as superficial. She seems more annoyed with words, less concerned with understanding and says, "If I had littered this interview with racial slurs and then said it was a joke, no one would be OK with that." I might have been OK with that, but it obviously depends on what she's saying. [Spinner]