Dear Sarkodie,
When social media went agog and made ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson’ about you, I never commented on the issue irrespective of the appeal it carried. As a matter of principle, I reminded myself, I do not comment on matters regarding ‘sexual’ morality when a man is involved.
My justification has always been when another man falls, you don’t laugh, but, learn. I can’t make excuses for your mistakes, but, like all men, you are no saint, therefore, it is pointless beating you down and pouring sand on top of your woes.
However, when I woke up this morning to learn on social media you have told your side of the story, I was elated. I said to myself, there is now balance to the full picture. But, following the thread of commentary and paying attention to the lyrics used in your response, I cringed and bowed my head in disappointment.
As a storyteller of your pedigree, I expected you to raise the bar. As a journalist, when you have the benefit of hindsight, you serve the best wine to your audience. But, Sarkodie, I must say you behaved like the unforgiving servant in the Bible. You may be emotionally disturbed so I will be charitable to share the verse with you …
“A man owed the king ten thousand talents. He could not pay so he begged for mercy – and the king cancelled the debt. The man then met a fellow servant who owed him a hundred denarii. The man demanded payment and had his fellow servant thrown in prison when he could not pay.
When the king heard about this, he called for the first servant. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” The king handed him over to the jailers to be tortured”.
You had an opportunity as a storyteller to sell your brand and assert yourself as the respected rapper we are hoping will fly the country’s flag high globally, but, you jumped into the gutter to slut shame your victim. What you didn’t know is even the dignity of the mentally unstable woman is protected. As I do not glorify when men fall, I don’t support the culture of insulting women under the guise of free speech. It is similar to saying you beat up Tracy because she made you angry.
As is to be expected, your fans are hailing because, in the village square, you are reminding them that a well-built man like you is a man. After all is said, which is more important, the brand you seek to put out globally, or the applause to enable you to cash out? I would have forgiven you same lyrics when you were unzipping at 22, but, you are a father now, be a BETTER ROLE MODEL.
Yours sincerely