T.I. is a rapper who is known for speaking his mind on a variety of issues, especially when it comes to divisive topics like Donald Trump and other political or activist action. Recently, the rapper publicly showed gave some minor league football parents some props for the support they showed during a team-wide protest of the National Anthem.
The story comes out of Indiana, where 7 and 8-year-old kids playing on a local football team, along with their coaches, took a knee while "The Star Spangled Banner" was being played before the game. The reaction from many people who watched the clip on YouTube was one approaching outrage, lambasting the adults involved for allowing the children to be used as pawns in a public show of virtue signaling. However, Mr. Harris doesn't have a problem with it, especially where the parents' actions are concerned.
"I just think parents are supposed to support the passion of the child, you know what I mean?" he told TMZ. "Children should have their own rights to have an opinion about things that affect society. I don't think a parent should force that on their child." The cameraman then asked if he thought politics had a place in sports - to no one's surprise, Tip stands with those who want to express their beliefs. "If it's oppression, then I think that, you know, you should be able to use your platform to stand up against it and fight against it."
Speaking of using platforms as a form of expression, T.I. had polarized a good portion of the Internet not long ago, when he sent a pretty strong message out to Wendy Williams on Instagram. Part of his caption read as follows:
"Ok now as much shit as this sister talk about people... (Myself included) I know what y'all expect. But I'm not gon do the obvious & fye her ass up. NOPE!!! I'm gon be respectful because regardless of her flaws she's still a independent black business woman that's had to fight her way through life to get where she is. JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE SHE JUDGES DAILY!!!"
Wendy Williams later issued a clap back to the veteran rapper, but it's clear that T.I., above all else, is a staunch supporter (and exerciser) of First Amendment rights.