Music producer and singer CeeLo Green has a message for victims of sexual assault: it isn’t rape if you are unconscious.
That’s the message the Gnarls Barkley member and one-time judge on the Voice tweeted out yesterday before defending his statements, then issuing an apology, then deleting his entire Twitter account.
Back in 2012, Green pleaded no contest to charges that he slipped a woman ecstasy without her consent in Los Angeles. The woman claimed she woke up next to Green uncertain of what happened the night before. A lack of evidence led to no formal rape charges being filed, but a felony drug charge led to Green receiving three years of probation and one year of community service.
His tweets yesterday seem to reference the case.
“If someone is passed out they’re not even WITH you consciously,” the 39-year-old wrote. He then added: “People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!”
Buzzfeed published screen grabs of the tweets.
Shortly after engaging others on Twitter about his views, he allegedly tweeted out this apology, also via Buzzfeed:
“Let me 1st praise god for exoneration fairness & freedom! Secondly I sincerely apologize for my comments being taken so far out of context.”
“I only intended on a healthy exchange to help heal those who love me from the pain I had already caused from this. Please forgive me as it..”
“…was your support that got me thru this to begin with. I’d never condone the harm of any women. Thank you.”