Carlos Santana made waves recently when a comment he made in July 2023, was unearthed and went viral online.
Santana has since reaped backlash and flak online over his anti-trans comments on a concert in a New Jersey concert. Now, the rocker has apologized for it.
Carlos Santana Transphobic Comments Unearthed
A video of Carlos Santana went viral online recently during his performance in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the recorded video, Santana can be seen delivering a speech aimed primarily at transgender people.
"When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are," he said in his now-viral speech. "Later on, when you grow out of it, you see things, and you start believing that you could be something that sounds good, but you know it ain't right."
He also added: "Because a woman is a woman and a man is a man - that's it. Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that's your business. I'm OK with that."
Netizens got a hold of the said clip and reacted harshly toward the unflattering and dangerous comment. The 76-year-old musician was on the receiving end of criticisms and hateful comments, dragging him.
"I will never understand folks finding moments UNPROVOKED to be bigots. Intended or not. Mr. Played-By-Carlos-Santana could've sat there and just strummed that damn guitar, but he decided to be transphobic. Poor that," a user shared.
"I didn't have Carlos Santana being an ignorant transphobic bigot on my BINGO card. What a shame," another pointed out.
Meanwhile, some people sided with Santana, primarily conservatives who have long supported an anti-trans agenda.
"Supporting Carlos Santana today," another wrote. "I see the liberals coming after him for this speech at his concert."
READ ALSO: Carlos Santana Divided the Public Following a Remark at Recent Concert
Carlos Santana Apologized For Transphobic Comment
In an exclusive statement to Billboard, Carlos Santana has apologized for his comments on transgenders.
"I am sorry for my insensitive comments. They don't reflect that I want to honor and respect all person's ideals and beliefs," he said in a statement. "I realize that what I said hurt people and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to the transgender community and everyone I offended."
He also said in another statement that he wanted to "honor and respect all person's ideals and beliefs whether they are LGBTQ or not...It takes courage to grow and glow in the light that you are and to be true, genuine, and authentic. We grow and learn to shine our light with Love and compliments."
READ ALSO: Neyo Recants Apology About Transphobic Comment, Claims It Was His Publicists Words
