Tyler the Creator at Credit Union 1 Arena
photo by James Richards IV

Tyler, the Creator-quoting college student charged with making terroristic threat

A University of South Alabama student has been charged with making a terroristic threat after writing Tyler, the Creator lyrics on a large flip chart in the school library, The Associated Press and Pitchfork report. AP mentions that it was the “second such case” within a week on the campus.

The student, 21-year-old Jack Aaron Christensen, wrote the “Kill People, Burn Shit, Fuck School” line from Tyler’s 2011 song “Radicals,” and the complaint says that it happened “on or around” September 11. AP also points out that “court records don’t say why the flip chart was in the library or whether it was part of a university program,” and also that court records did not list a lawyer for Christensen who could be reached for comment.

“No matter the circumstances, our police must treat any possible threat with the utmost seriousness and act immediately to ensure the safety of our campus community,” said Michael Mitchell, vice president for student affairs.

As Pitchfork reminds, Tyler makes this disclaimer at the beginning of “Radicals”:

Random disclaimer!
Hey, don’t do anything that I say in this song, OK?
It’s fucking fiction
If anything happens, don’t fuckin’ blame me, white America

Stay tuned for any further updates on this story.

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