Ari Lennox Calls Rod Wave Out For Not Defending Her Amid Their Tour Audience's Attacks To Her

BYGabriel Bras Nevares1098 Views
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Rod Wave Nostalgia Tour - Jacksonville, FL
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 18: Ari Lennox performs during the Rod Wave Nostalgia Tour at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on December 18, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage/Getty Images)
Ari Lennox had previously described her experience opening for Rod Wave as "heavy on her soul" due to the audiences present berating her.

For those unaware, Ari Lennox faced a lot of negativity from audiences on Rod Wave's Nostalgia tour, whether it was a bottle thrown at her and displaying mean messages to her. She had previously spoke on her experiences, but following a similar incident that happened to Flo Milli on Gunna's tour recently, she's speaking out against her trek mate this time. "Flo Milli I'm sorry this happened to you," the Dreamville artist wrote. "You are a beautiful and incredibly talented woman. Some of these people can be so damn cruel.

"Maybe I could've gotten over some of Rod Wave's evil, racist and demonic fans. But what made it even worse is Rod saying nothing in my defense," Ari Lennox continued. "Privately or publicly. The only reason we met was because we ran into each other in a Hotel Lobby after constant efforts of me trying to share my gratefulness for the opportunity. I never had issues with fans being violent or evil towards me while opening up for legendary singers and legendary hip hop acts. Those were some of the best tours of my life and really taught me how to sing better.

Ari Lennox Claims Rod Wave Never Addressed Poor Treatment On Tour

"I'm use to men rarely defending me publicly, but it was a triggering experience nonetheless," Ari Lennox went on. "I thought I was accepting an opportunity to network, connect and make a friend. But I've learned this industry is heartless. Rarely will you find real friends and lifelong connections in it. Life is also like that lol. I am extremely aware that I am not entitled to any friendship or connection or greeting or protection or anything from anybody. Im aware that my abandonment issues and wanting to be loved and accepted cause me to take rejection a lot harder than the usual person.

"I was so blessed to be protected and spoiled by Dreamville on those tours," Ari Lennox concluded. "I didn't know how easy I had it. And I'm also aware that half of the mess I end up in I'm solely responsible for. Doesn't make the disrespect feel good or valid. To protect my peace I will never open up for a soul again. STOP disrespecting openers. STOP creating excuses as to why these openers get violated on stage 'maybe she shouldn't have been on that tour?' This makes the disrespect and violence to black women valid? Headliners, protect your openers."

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
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