In what could possibly be one of the worst career moves ever, Rich Homie Quan decided to be his own legal counsel and defend himself on social media after creating one of the worst child endangerment cases against himself. If you are confused after reading that, don’t be alarmed — we are all confused, as is 25-year-old rapper Rich Homie Quan.
After uploading a video of him holding his toddler son while proudly smoking a blunt he was attacked by fans saying he was putting his son in danger and was a bad parent. Instead of consulting management or public relations counsel, the rapper used social media to try to clear his name:
“First off, I would like to apologize to my son, (Royal) my fans and all the parents around the world. By no means would I do anything to hurt my son or any kid in the world. I regret that I chose to continue to smoke once Royal jumped in my lap. After looking back on it, I realize my error and I am sorry for my actions. I would also like to take the time to let people around the world know that this pedestal that I have been placed upon I do not take it for granted but I need people to understand that I am only human and I make mistakes just like anyone else. In spite of this situation I will continue to be the best parent I can be. Thanks RHQ!”
I can appreciate RHQ’s owning his mistake and even pleading for public mercy, his actions were the sign of an ill-advised amateur. Yes, his intent is somewhat honorable and the picture that accompanied it is a heart-tugging depiction of fatherhood, that in itself does little to erase the previously uploaded video of him smoking with his son on his lap. The fact that he didn’t think twice before uploading that initial video lets us know that his normal lifestyle is to smoke around his son.
This apology seems forced and it doesn’t take a detective to see he’s attempting to quiet the angry fans and perhaps calm the storm that could be brewing in a court of law. There were rumors that the post sparked an investigation from Child Protective Services. If true, RHQ’s acknowledgement may not have been the wisest choice for him, especially if there was the possibility of legal repercussions as a result of the post.
What many of today’s young talents don’t grasp is that their social media can be used against them in a court of law. Social media platforms are public domain and anything posted that could incriminate you in any way can and most likely will be used. There are countless cases of people being arrested and or convicted due to things being posted online.
Just as you wouldn’t defend yourself in a court of law; one should not attempt to defend themselves on social media. A reputable publicist or manager should have a lawyer on standby for cases like this. Even if RHQ doesn’t suffer from any consequences on this particular case, it was highly irresponsible and could complicate both his personal and professional livelihood.
This is a great example of why a sharp manager and reputable publicist are invaluable to have on your team. While the naked eye may not see what was lost by this action, a seasoned veteran can assess that this is one more action that could cost RHQ thousands perhaps even millions in dollars and opportunity. If that doesn’t make him feel some type of way, I don’t know what will.
