Rapper Lupe Fiasco was escorted off stage during a performance at an inauguration bash on Sunday in Washington, D.C.
The event was organized by StartUp RockOn at the Hamilton Live theater. Allegedly, Fiasco -- well known for his outspoken political statements -- was asked to leave after he performed an anti-war song, directed in part at President Obama.
Here are a few of the lyrics:
"Limbaugh is a racist, Glenn Beck is a racist, Gaza Strip was getting bombed, Obama didn't say shit, That's why I ain't vote for him, Next one either, I'm part of the problem, My problem is I'm peaceful"
In the video above, it appears the lights are cut out mid-performance as three security guards walk on stage to remove Fiasco.
StartUp RockOn released a statement today that assured the rapper's removal was instead the result of an unsatisfactory performance on his part:
" ... as you may have read, he left the stage earlier than we had planned. But Lupe Fiasco was not 'kicked off stage' for an 'anti-Obama rant.' We are staunch supporters of free speech, and free political speech. This was not about his opinions. Instead, after a bizarrely repetitive, jarring performance that left the crowd vocally dissatisfied, organizers decided to move on to the next act"
Foreign Policy reporter Josh Rogin, who apparently attended the event, tweeted that Fiasco's song went on for 30 minutes before he was asked to move to the next one.
So Lupe played one anti-war song for 30 min and said he didn't vote for Obama and eventually was told to move on to the next song.— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) January 21, 2013
Watch the video for yourself. What do you think? Was this reason to be escorted off stage? Or, better yet, were you at the event? Tell us your thoughts below.