That time Neil Young went on a homophobic rant about AIDS in the ’80s
Neil Young has made national headlines since he decided last week to pull his music from Spotify. The move was prompted by the streamer continually giving podcaster Joe Rogan a platform to spread misinformation about Covid-19, and has led to several other artists following suit.In the midst of the fallout, an old interview has resurfaced in which the famed musician used homophobic language while crassly discussing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.In an interview with Melody Maker in 1985, Young said, “You go to a supermarket, and you see a f—ggot behind the f—kin’ cash register; you don’t want him to handle your potatoes.”The quote is only slightly better with the full context, which many critics are leaving out of the discussion.
Still, none of it ages well.“It’s true!” Young continued. “It’s paranoid but that’s the way it is–even though it’s not just gay people, they’re taking the rap.
There’s a lotta religious people, of course, who feel that this is God’s work. God’s saying, y’know, no more buttf*cking or we’re gonna getcha.
I don’t know what it is. It’s natural, that’s one thing about it. It’s a living organism or virus, whatever it is. I hope they find something to stop it.
