Bonnaroo 2018 - Saturday
Bon Iver at Bonnaroo 2018 (more by Kate Cauthen)

Justin Vernon: "was not in the studio for the Eminem track... not a fan of the message"

Eminem surprise-released a new album Kamikaze today, and he’s been under fire for using homophobic slurs on it (“Tyler create nothing, I see why you called yourself a faggot, bitch / It’s not just ’cause you lack attention / It’s ’cause you worship D12’s balls, you’re sac-religious,” he rapped, aimed at Tyler the Creator). The song in question features Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, who has since taken to Twitter to respond to the backlash. “Was not in the studio for the Eminem track… came from a session with BJ Burton and Mike Will. Not a fan of the message, it’s tired. Asked them to change the track, wouldn’t do it,” he said. He also added, “Eminem is one of the best rappers of all time , there is no doubt. I have and will respect that. Tho, this is not the time to criticize Youth, it’s the time to listen. To act. It is certainly not the time for slurs. Wish they would have listened when we asked them to change it.”

Justin also says that he’s actually on the title track, not “Fall.” “Also, to be clear it’s the title-track, “Kamikaze”, Justin sings on and not “Fall”. @Spotify has the credits mixed-up,” he tweeted from the Bon Iver account.

UPDATE: Justin later tweeted: “I was wrong and we are gonna kill this track.”

Justin also released his own new album today with Big Red Machine.

You can listen to the Eminem song with Justin Vernon below: