Lil Yachty is facing heavy backlash after previewing an unreleased track during a livestream with PlaqueBoyMax that included a lyric referencing George Floyd. The bar immediately drew criticism, most notably from Floyd’s longtime friend and former NBA player, Stephen Jackson.
Jackson, who grew up with Floyd in Houston’s Third Ward, didn’t hold back in his response. In a video posted online, he called the lyric “disrespectful” and accused Yachty of exploiting Floyd’s name for attention. “Lil Yachty, bro. You been wack, my n***a,” Jackson said. “You think saying George Floyd’s name in a bar is gonna make people like your music? That’s weak. Y’all the only era that thinks demeaning the dead is cool. It ain’t.”
He went on to stress the personal weight of his criticism, pointing out that none of the artists making these references actually knew Floyd. “None of y’all knew G, nothing about him. But y’all wanna say his name for clout. That’s some weak-ass shit. Let somebody die in your family, and we gonna do a whole skit about it and see how funny it is. Cut that shit out.”
Jackson and Floyd’s friendship dated back to childhood, and their resemblance led Jackson to often call Floyd his “twin.” Their bond made Floyd’s 2020 killing deeply personal for Jackson, who has remained vocal about protecting his legacy.
Lil Yachty has yet to publicly respond to the criticism, but the clip has sparked widespread debate online over whether artists should be more mindful when referencing real-life tragedies in their work. The uproar underscores how quickly creative expression can cross into perceived disrespect and how public reaction can be swift when it does.