Spike Lee Slams Chance the Rapper’s Chi-Raq Criticism

Chance photo via Instagram; Spike Lee photo via Instagram

Last week, Chance the Rapper strongly criticized Spike Lee’s new film Chi-Raq, calling it “exploitive and problematic.” In an interview with MSNBC, Lee hit back at Chance’s criticisms, pointing out that Chance’s father works for mayor Rahm Emanuel, and saying that Chance has never critiqued the mayor (who has recently been in the spotlight following the release of the video capturing the police shooting of Laquan McDonald). Watch the interview below, via The 405.

“First of all, Chance the Rapper should say full disclosure: his father works for the mayor,” Lee said. “His father is the chief of staff. Show me any criticism. If you’re so concerned about Chicago, do your research, show me where he’s made criticisms about the mayor. I think your finds will be surprising. He’s not criticized the mayor. Why? His father works for the mayor.”

Ken Bennett, Chance’s father, is the mayor’s deputy chief of staff, as well as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement.

Lee also pointed to the involvement of Jennifer Hudson as proof his movie isn’t exploitative. In the movie, Hudson plays a mother whose young daughter is killed by a random shooting. In 2008, Hudson’s mother, brother, and nephew were shot to death at their Chicago home by the estranged husband of Hudson’s sister. 

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