President Joe Biden referred to legendary rapper LL Cool J as a “boy” after he mispronounced his name in another butchered speech at the Congressional Black Caucus on Saturday night.
LL Cool J and MC Lyte received Phoenix Awards for their musical contributions at the annual ceremony in Washington DC.
On stage, Biden, 80, said: “Two of the great artists of our time who represent the groundbreaking legacy of hip-hop in America, LL Jay Cool J, uhhh…” – as the audience laughed at his latest faux pas Rappers.
Biden then added: “By the way, this boy – this man has biceps bigger than my thighs.”
Footage of his speech was quickly reposted by the right-wing RNC Research on social media, where commentators were quick to point out that calling African-Americans “boys” is widely viewed as a derogatory term.
Joe Biden botched his speech to the Congressional Black Caucus on Saturday night
The 80-year-old president referred to legendary rapper LL Cool J (pictured) as a “boy” after he mispronounced his name
On
Another accused him of being an “ignorant racist Democrat.”
This isn’t the first time the president has gotten in trouble for using the term.
Biden was heavily criticized earlier this year when he referred to Maryland’s first Black governor, Wes Moore, as a “boy.”
“You’ve got a hell of a new governor in Wes Moore, I’m telling you that,” Biden told members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in February.
“He’s real, and the kid looked like he could still play.” “He’s got some guns on him,” he added.
In May, he also raised eyebrows when he told a visitor to the White House to “shut up, boy” during an event celebrating the Islamic holiday of Eid-al-Fitr.
The awkward exchange came about when the spectator, believed to be a Muslim, interrupted the president as he celebrated the occasion in front of a packed crowd.
Biden said: “Two of the great artists of our time who represent the groundbreaking legacy of hip-hop in America, LL Jay Cool J, uhhh…”
LL Cool J and MC Lyte received Phoenix Awards for their musical contributions at the annual ceremony in Washington DC
“Do you want to come and give a speech?” Biden responded after being harassed.
“Shut up, boy, as my mother would say,” he continued, imitating Southern style.
In 2019, Biden made a similar gaffe when he told a campaign crowd that he could work with all people — even those with whom he disagreed.
He told how he worked with James Eastland, a senator and plantation owner from Mississippi who was an open supporter of white supremacy. Eastland resigned as senator in 1978 and died in 1986 at the age of 81.
Biden said Eastland respected him, stating, “He never called me ‘boy,’ he always called me ‘son.'”
Sen. Cory Booker, who is black, chided Biden for downplaying the use of the word “boy” to denigrate black men.
Booker said on CNN it was inappropriate. “You don’t joke about calling black men ‘boys,’” he said.
He later added that he had a constructive conversation with Biden about the use of the term, adding: “This is about him evoking a terrible power dynamic that he has shown a lack of understanding or insensitivity to by saying so to the idea that he was called “son” of white segregationists who, yes, they see him as their son.”
Footage of his speech was quickly reposted by the right-wing RNC Research on social media, where commentators were quick to point out that calling African-Americans “boys” is widely viewed as a derogatory term.
In 2021, the president also awkwardly referred to then-29-year-old Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama as a “boy.”
He told the Japanese Prime Minister during a press conference: “A Japanese boy comes here and guess what?” He won the Masters. He won the Masters. He won the green jacket.’
Biden’s blunder Saturday night is just the latest in a long line of recent speech disasters as critics increasingly raise concerns about the president’s age and health.
During a speech in Washington on Thursday at the 46th annual gala of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Biden celebrated Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, for her gala award.
Biden praised her for following the lessons of the Gospel of Matthew before incorrectly adding, “The Congressional Black Caucus embodies all of these values.”
Just days ago, Biden repeated the same story twice within minutes at a private fundraiser in New York, sparking further concerns about his age.
The president often tells the story of how the events in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 and Donald Trump’s response inspired him to run for the White House.
Biden falsely praised the Congressional Black Caucus during a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Thursday
On August 11, 2017, white supremacists and neo-Nazis invaded the city and clashes continued until the following day.
Biden, who was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, attended a fundraiser hosted by food security expert Amy Goldman Fowler at her home.
He began speaking in a living room to about two dozen people shortly after 4 p.m., according to a White House report on the private event.
Biden discussed his economic record and reflected on his decision to seek the presidency, speaking “about the events of Charlottesville” as a reason for his campaign, the report said.
“A few minutes later he told the story again, almost verbatim,” it continues.
The incident occurred after he appeared to leave the stage without shaking the Brazilian president’s hand at the end of a joint speech.
Biden clashed with the Brazilian flag on Wednesday, marking his first gaffe within seconds of his appearance on stage
The president appeared to leave Lula hanging at the end of the diplomatic presentation, awkwardly saluting the audience before shuffling off the stage
And when he was in Vietnam earlier this month, his rambling press conference was suddenly brought to a halt when his microphone was cut off and jazz music played him off the stage, as if he had gone on too long during an awards ceremony speech.
Biden was in the middle of a conversation, answering questions from reporters, when he was interrupted and forced to shuffle away and go backstage.
“We talked about stability, we talked about the third world, excuse me, the southern hemisphere has access to change. “It wasn’t confrontational at all…” Biden said as he continued speaking.
Suddenly the booming voice of his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, could be heard.
‘Thanks to you all. This ends the press conference. Thank you everyone,” she said as she ended the press conference.