He’s douche-baggiest single to date….
John Mayer has been in the news lately. Instead of dating another tabloid-worthy Hollywood blonde, he’s speaking with PlayBoy and performing an ill-advised brain dump. Now, I’m a John Mayer fan. I know that he comes off as, and probably is, a royal douche bag. But what can I say? I like his music. Much like Robin Thicke, he’s a guilty pleasure I feel no need to defend. I’ll just politely change the music if someone doesn’t care to listen to him whine in my car.
Unfortunately, John Mayer is one of the many recent celebrities who believe and, more importantly, who reporters and fans believe should be heard. Everyone has an opinion, famous or not. With the ever-expanding array of access points to celebrities, we learn more than we may need to about our favorite pop stars, rappers, actors and athletes. Some know how to just be good at what they do without sharing the details of their personal lives (for example Beyonce). While others attempt to revive dead careers by allowing us access to EVERYTHING (for example Bret Michaels). Either way, as the fans/consumers, we have to decide just how much we care. John Mayer’s latest interview reminds me why it’s best to just appreciate the music. I don’t need to necessarily appreciate the person.
The only reason I paid any attention to this interview was all of the drama following it. Aside from sharing unsavory details about his obsessions with porn and masturbating, interesting comments about exes and unnecessarily using the N-word to justify a hood pass, John Mayer is apparently not interested in sleeping with black women. Shocking, I know! But who cares? As a black woman, I’m not all that interested in sleeping with him either. My heart’s not broken.
PlayBoy: Do black women throw themselves at you?
Mayer: I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick.
I’m not trying to downplay the possible connotations. Maybe John is a racist. Maybe he considers his overworked dick too good for a little chocolate. While eliminating the possibility of a fruitful relationship with a “sista” is unfortunate, it’s not innately wrong. As long as John sees no problem with other people doing it, he’s completely entitled to his preferences. If I were to say I prefer black men over white, does that make me a racist or just aware of my preferences? Somehow I feel Usher wouldn’t be shunned for saying he prefers to date black women…
When probed by the reporter, John admits that he has found some black women attractive.
Mayer: I always thought Holly Robinson Peete was gorgeous. Every white dude loved Hilary from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And Kerry Washington. She’s superhot, and she’s also white-girl crazy. Kerry Washington would break your heart like a white girl. Just all of a sudden she’d be like, “Yeah, I sucked his dick. Whatever.” And you’d be like, “What? We weren’t talking about that.” That’s what “Heartbreak Warfare” is all about, when a girl uses jealousy as a tactic.
Funny. I don’t know if that statement is more offensive to black women or white women. I wonder how he thinks a black woman breaks your heart. And are all white women manipulative bitches? Oh John, it may not be that chocolate’s your problem. You just might like people as immature as you are.
When this interview came out and all of the SHOCKED responses started, I thought there had to be more to this story. I don’t regularly read PlayBoy articles so I had to look it up. After reading the entire article, I was more bored and annoyed than offended or outraged. I understand why these shocked responses about racial comments came out. Aside from describing a generally goodie two-shoes ex as being sexual napalm, there really wasn’t anything else all that interesting to mention. John Mayer seems like an intelligent person who attempts to balance sounding important and indifferent. Somehow he generally manages to just sound like a douche.
What I found more interesting was his description of “being black.” As a black person, I don’t know if I can describe being black. Sure, I could spout out historical facts and statistics, but I really feel it’s about experiences related to those facts and stats. Thank goodness John Mayer could explain it to me.
Mayer: What is being black? It’s making the most of your life, not taking a single moment for granted. Taking something that’s seen as a struggle and making it work for you, or you’ll die inside. Not to say that my struggle is like the collective struggle of black America. But maybe my struggle is similar to one black dude’s.
I’m happy you realize your struggles aren’t necessarily equivalent to ours, John. Very happy. Now tell me about being Latino or Asian…
Let me state for the record, “I don’t understand why any man would not be attracted to black women.” We come in all shapes and sizes, features and attributes. It’s a pity any man would deny himself the love a good black woman but if that’s what he so chooses to do, the fault is on him. There are plenty of men, black, white and other, who can appreciate our beauty. Why should we care about John Mayer’s lose?
(Plus, he’s just young and naive. Everyone knows black women age exceptionally well. For the most part, our skin stays taut. Fewer wrinkles, fewer apparent birthdays. Black don’t crack, baby. AND we don’t have to tan. This beautiful bronzed look is year-round, free and natural. 🙂 )
Not feeliing slighted by John Mayer in the least,
Jo’van
The Truth: According to Jo'van 