Red, White and Ambien, you’re talking shit again John Mayer!

 John Mayer has a split personality.   

John Mayer's Playboy interview causes uproar | Courtesy of Splash News and Pictures, celebritysmackblog.com

In the left corner we have John Mayer the musician: the 32-year-old, self-proclaimed ladies man that writes songs that make women melt. And in the right corner we have John Mayer the mouth: immature and arrogant, Mr. Mayer spews whatever comes to mind– the good, the bad and the downright disgusting.   

In an interview with Playboy for the March edition of the magazine, Mayer spilled private details about relationships, sexual preferences and feelings about the black race. He calls it clever and raw, I call it rude and uncalled for.   

Social media apology accepted?:   

With the help of social media, Mayer was able to apologize before many people knew what he was apologizing for. He took to Twitter immediately after the uproar began:   

“Re: using the ‘N word’ in an interview: I am sorry that I used the word. And it’s such a shame that I did because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit of the word itself. It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using it, because I realize that there’s no intellectualizing a word that is so emotionally charged. And while I’m using today for looking at myself under harsh light, I think it’s time to stop trying to be so raw in interviews…It started as an attempt to not let the waves of criticism get to me, but it’s gotten out of hand and I’ve created somewhat of a monster. I wanted to be a blues guitar player. And a singer. And a songwriter. Not a shock jock. I don’t have the stomach for it. Again, because I don’t want anyone to think I’m equivocating: I should have never said the word and I will never say it again.”   

The apologies continued into Wednesday evening, when Mayer addressed the issue to his audience at a Nashville performance. In his apology, he swears off the media game and “realizes” his need to not be so “clever” all the time. As his fans scream in approval, I cannot help but wonder if any of them took the chance to read the full interview.   

   

Through outlets like Twitter and Facebook, celebrities are now acting as their own personal publicists, handling personal mistakes in real-time. However, this is not necessarily a good thing. A publicist was clearly needed at the interview in the first place as Mayer drank Lagavulin scotch and opened up his soul to Playboy.   

Not so fast Johnny boy, apology NOT accepted:   

Twitter | Joell Ortiz

Unlike his screaming fans, others aren’t buying the change of heart. Hip-Hop artist Joell Ortiz tweeted:  

Though it’s great you got your apology out in record time John Mayer, you forgot to apologize for EVERYTHING you said. What about the rude and disgusting comments you made about Jessica Simpson? What about the gay slur and racist comments against black women going so far as to call actress Kerry Washington “white-girl crazy?” Low blows, Mayer, to all women– your target audience at that!

 

Unfortunately, I do not see this affecting Mayer’s record sales or his behavior in the future. His fan base is not part of the demographics affected by the controversial comments. As a fan of John Mayer music myself, I try to keep “John Mayer the mouth” and “John Mayer the musician” separate in my mind so as not to ruin my love for the music.   

So John, while you’re waiting on the world to change, maybe you should start with your mouth.