(Photo by Kevin D. Liles for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Louisiana State University has issued an apology on behalf of Flau’jae Johnson after the star women’s LSU basketball player posted a video of her referencing Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in a rap.
On Tuesday, Johnson released the video for her remix of Latto’s “Put It on Da Floor.” She used double-entendre wordplay to reference both 9/11 and the iconic Porsche sports car, according to the New York Post.
“In this 911, blowing smoke just like them towers,” she raps.
While the 19-year-old quickly deleted the offensive clip, LSU felt compelled to apologize on behalf of Johnson. The school claimed she was “sincerely remorseful” for angering anyone with her words.
“We spoke with Flau’jae this evening, and while she never intended to offend or upset anyone with her lyrics, she expressed sincere remorse for any possibility of a misunderstanding and immediately took the video down. We will learn and grow from this experience together,” LSU told FOX News Digital/OutKick in a statement released Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, fans on social media remain divided, with many defending Johnson’s use of the 9/11 reference and some even calling it a “fire bar.”
“That’s a fire bar man, one person tweeted. “Fire bar tbf,” another wrote. “The bar is fye tho,” a third offered.
Some called people out for being too sensitive, while others tweeted “Bars” concerning Johnson’s rapping.
One commenter downplayed the incident by stating Johnson is hardly the first rapper to have bars about 9/11, tweeting, “Eminem and 50 had bars about 9/11 a few years after.”
“Making it more than what it is,” a commenter noted. “America is very sensitive,” another tweeted.
However, not everyone took it so lightly. Many called for her suspension from the LSU women’s basketball team; some even said she should be kicked off the team entirely.
“Why would she say this?” someone tweeted alongside an incredulous emoji. “This is not ok! She needs to be kicked off the team!” another wrote.
A third commented: “Lol, she can apologize all she wants, she thought she was making a joke, but the joke is actually her. What an idiot.”
It’s unclear whether or not Johnson will be punished by LSU following the university’s apology earlier this week.
The outlet reports that Johnson is the daughter of the late rapper Camouflauge, who died six months before her birth.
She is currently signed to Roc Nation.
Johnson started her career in music at a young age, having appeared on “The Rap Game” at 13 and trying out for “America’s Got Talent” at 14. There, she earned a golden buzzer.
She averaged 11 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest this past season. Johnson has made headlines alongside fellow LSU women’s basketball phenom Angel Reese, who just graced the cover of “Sports Illustrated” swimsuit edition.
The duo helped the LSU women’s basketball team win the national championship last month, the Post reports.
