MUMBAI: The 47-year-old rapper Eminem announced that his music studio, Shady Records, will be participating in the #BlackoutTuesday campaign, a movement that started within the music industry to symbolize standing against racial injustice. The day has been widely accepted by the public and other businesses, many of whom are posting plain black squares on their social-media pages to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
The New York City-based record company wrote on Twitter “We will be closed on Black Out Tuesday. Join us in fighting for change. On this day we will dedicate our time and efforts to help prevent social injustice and explore ways to assist in the fight against racial inequality.”
“I don’t think the movement has ever been this powerful. We don’t need to slow it down by posting nothing. We need to spread info and be as loud as ever,” wrote Lil Nas X on Twitter.
Eminem also posted a photo along with the tweet, which read, “Shady Records will join in the observance of Black Out Tuesday on June 2, 2020. On this day we will dedicate our time and efforts to help prevent social injustice and explore ways to assist in the fight against racial inequality.”
Eminem was also heard ‘Everybody vs. COVID-19’ live stream on which he said: “Detroit isn’t just a city: it’s also a feeling, a hustle, a state of mind. But mostly, Detroit is a city where we fight for what we believe in, and we don’t take s**t just lying down.”
He also added, “COVID-19 is no different. So we’ve got some work to do in order to stay safe. One way is that we have to be counted – and the census is your way to do just that. So this month, we’ve got to bring the city together, man.”
Some community leaders are upset that those posting black squares to signal their support with #BlackoutTuesday are using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.
“When you post your black square please don’t use the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter,” said Lizzo in an Instagram video. “It is flooding the hashtag search with just black pictures instead of information.”