Last year, controversial rapper, XXXTentacion, was shot dead outside a car dealership in Florida by Dedrick Devonshay Williams of Pompano Beach. While the act was one of brutal violence and unpremeditated horror, XXX (real name Jahseh Onfroy) could hardly be said to have led a spotless life himself. The reports of the domestic abuse suffered by Onfroy's girlfriend at his hands are enough to make even the most hard-hearted of us wince.
But one comedian has faced a huge backlash for making a joke out of his death. While the joke has been taken down by Comedy Central, many have stood up for up-and-comer, Dina Hashem, claiming that nothing should be off-limits for comedy. What's your take? Scroll on to untangle this complicated situation.
Born January 23rd, 1998, Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy was better known as XXXTentacion.
He was a pioneering figure in the newer genre of emo-rap, with many viewing him as something of a musical wunderkind.Like many in the genre, XXXTentacion rose to fame on Soundcloud.
But music was not what XXXTentacion was solely known for.
But the majority of the controversy surrounding XXX regards his treatment of his ex-girlfriend.
He dated Geneva Ayala between 2016 and 2017 - but, during the entire period, he subjected his girlfriend to a horrendous amount of abuse. This includes repeated rapes and beatings.It didn't end there.
XXX also kidnapped his then-pregnant girlfriend, threatening to murder both her and their unborn child.Eventually, Geneva Ayala took XXX to court on a myriad of domestic abuse charges.
The full details of her testimony were recounted in this Pitchfork feature - but we have to warn you, this makes for a pretty horrendous read.Some of Ayala's injuries were truly horrific.
Aside from a history of horrifying domestic abuse, there was another scandal which followed XXXTentacion around.
What makes this all the more shocking is how XXXTentacion talked about the incident.
In fact, this is sort of what categorizes his whole attitude to violence.
In an obituary, the Guardian commented on his total lack of regret for his vile actions, saying that he, "will be remembered mostly for the unusually cruel violence he committed on vulnerable people, particularly his ex-girlfriend, crimes for which he never expressed remorse."On June 18th of 2018, XXXTentacion's life was cut short.
He was leaving the Riva Motorsports dealership in Deerfield Beach, Florida, when he was blocked in the parking lot and attacked by two men who were attempting to steal his bag of cash, amounting to $50,000.During the struggle which ensured, XXX was shot numerous times.
In spite of the controversies, XXXTentacion still had a remarkable number of fans.
And, weirdly enough, it seems as though the people who connected to XXX's music could seemingly discount his violent, dangerous, and sociopathic persona and just enjoy the tunes.Since his death, XXX has had a few records posthumously released.
Hearing XXXTentacion on Royalty 🔥 https://t.co/W47zwIpmIn— DomisLive NEWS (@DomisLive NEWS)1563509545.0
But one woman has hit headlines this weekend in relation to XXXTentacion.
This is comedian Dina Hashem. She's up-and-coming and recently featured in her very own Comedy Central special.And, in a promo for her performance, Comedy Central posted a snipped online.
Fuck comedy central and dina hashem after disgustingly disrespecting the late great rapper XXX tentacion #CancelComedyCentral #LLJ— Slut for oat milk (@Slut for oat milk)1563574165.0
Although many have spoken out in support of Hashem.
Look this XXXTentacion shit is actually very simple so lemme sum it up for you: YES you can rap about murder but NO… https://t.co/QNGqI16DaL— Curtis Cook (@Curtis Cook)1563654273.0
It seems something of a double standard.
This XXXtentacion guy beat his pregnant girlfriend half to death, along with admitting to stabbing and brutalizing… https://t.co/g1M0GLWTEc— Matt Walsh (@Matt Walsh)1563665685.0
In fact, many comedians have backed Hashem.
attacking a woman is the best tribute to XXXTentacion his fans could have come up with— Django Gold (@Django Gold)1563638895.0
Some of them, even we think push the limits.
Part of me wants to take out my anger on all the XXXTentacion fans today, but I doubt any of them are carrying 50 grand in cash.— Anthony Jeselnik (@Anthony Jeselnik)1563665831.0
Many of the jokes had us wincing.
But, hey, at least they put the softer, generally far less offensive nature of Hashem's original joke into perspective.Although some had a more measured response.
They calmly pointed out the hypocrisy of responding to a joke about death with literal death threats. Pick a side, people! Is death serious, or not?Even so, Hashem has made an apology.
Although she doesn't quite say that she was wrong for making the joke, she does comment that she had no intention of causing such a huge ruckus online.Here's the original joke that sparked this whole conversation.
If you can't play it aloud, here's what Hashem says. "Is anyone still mourning XXXTentacion? He’s a rapper, who was murdered, he’s dead now. He was shot, he was on his way to buy a car with $50,000 in cash and somebody shot him and took the money, which is very tragic. But I also think it would be a very good Venmo commercial. That’s the first thing I thought when I heard that. Like, 'I don’t have Venmo, I should get Venmo.'"In comparison to everything that you've read so far, it seems like pretty tame stuff, right?
the xxxtentacion joke was a good joke based on a tragedy. in the joke she says its tragic even. it is a well writte… https://t.co/IbMr7z9z35— Open Mike Eagle (@Open Mike Eagle)1563736411.0