Lil Yachty confronted public backlash earlier this week over a controversial lyric referencing George Floyd. Specifically, Floyd’s pal Stephen Jackson known as out the rapper for what he described as disrespect towards the late George Floyd, whose loss of life sparked world protests in 2020.

“I won’t be doing no interviews about it,” he stated in an Instagram video. “I spoke to him. He’s a smart young man. He’s winning for a reason. He’s a super smart individual. He made a mistake. He apologized. It’s over … he made a mistake. Let it go.”

Stephen Jackson says it’s squashed 🤝 After calling out Lil Yachty for mentioning his late pal George Floyd in a brand new music, Stak5 revealed they spoke privately and Yachty apologized. “No interviews, it’s handled.” ✊🏾💬 pic.twitter.com/Su6VEzoHi3

— Traps N Trunks (@trapsntrunks) August 15, 2025

The line in query goes, “Put my knee up on her neck, I went George Floyd,” a line that just about instantly set social media ablaze with criticism.

Many known as it tasteless and flat-out disrespectful, given the tragedy of Floyd’s loss of life in 2020. One one that wasn’t about to let it slide was former NBA participant and podcaster Stephen Jackson, a childhood pal of George Floyd.

Jackson tore into Yachty on-line, saying, “Lil Yachty, bro. You been wack, my n####. But you think you saying George Floyd name, and trying to use his name in a bar, that’s gonna make people like your wack-ass music, my n####? That s### weak.”

He went on to name out what he sees as a broader pattern in rap: “Y’all the only era that feel like demeaning the dead and saying that s### is cool. It ain’t.”

Jackson then  warned Yachty to by no means communicate Floyd’s identify once more, stressing that none of those rappers really knew him.

“Y’all wanna say his name for clout,” he added. “That’s some weak-ass s###, Yachty. Let somebody die in your family, we gonna do a whole skit about it. And see how funny it is. Cut that s### out.”

George Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for greater than 9 minutes throughout an arrest. The incident, captured on video, led to widespread protests and requires police reform throughout the United States and world wide. Chauvin was later convicted of homicide and sentenced to over 22 years in jail.

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