Music critic and YouTube persona Anthony Fantano has issued a public apology after outdated video clips resurfaced displaying him utilizing racial slurs and fascinating in content material that some viewers discovered racially insensitive.

Fantano, who runs the favored overview channel The Needle Drop with over 3 million subscribers, addressed the backlash in a video posted to his secondary channel and on X (previously Twitter). The resurfaced clips stem from his now-defunct aspect channel thatistheplan, which featured surreal, meme-based content material widespread within the mid-2010s. That channel and its content material have been beforehand the topic of a 2018 Fader article that linked Fantano to the alt-right, an allegation he later challenged in courtroom. The article was ultimately taken down following a settlement.

In his current video, Fantano acknowledged two particular clips drawing criticism. One options him quoting each the N-word and the F-slur. He admitted it was a poor determination, explaining, “Early on in my YouTube profession, I had some fairly lax views when it got here to quoting the language of others… My perspective was, ‘what does it matter?’ However I now notice it was in unhealthy type and pointless.”

He added, “All I can do is take possession of getting quoted these phrases on this method. And clearly say that I’m sorry. Which, I’m, in reality, sorry about this.”

The second clip suggests he laughed on the loss of life of Trayvon Martin. Fantano strongly denied that accusation, stating the clip was closely edited. He clarified that he was reacting to a viewer’s tremendous chat, and performed the total model of the clip, the place he calls a co-host a “moron” for complicated Trayvon Martin with YouTuber Tre Melvin.

Fantano concluded his assertion by addressing DJ Akademiks, whose fan-operated AkademiksTV web page helped recirculate the clips. Fantano distanced himself from any platform or narrative selling offensive or dangerous content material.