Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas has come under fire for making a racist remark about Indigenous Australians during a Melbourne concert over the weekend. Thomas has issued an apology for the remark, insisting he was unaware of the implications of what he was saying.
In footage shared by TMZ, Thomas told fans gathered at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, “When you get on the plane, on your way here, you start drinking. I keep drinking until I think I’m Australian. And then I keep drinking until I think I’m a black Australian.”
Australian country singer Troy Cassar-Daley, who is part Aboriginal and was at the concert, criticised Thomas on Twitter, writing, “Rob Thomas always came across as a smart bloke to me, I guess I was wrong.”
Meanwhile, Indigenous Australian rapper Briggs took to his official Facebook page to write, “Well, I guess I’m just going to drink until Rob Thomas sounds good. #Smooth,” a reference to Thomas’ hit with Carlos Santana.
According to The Herald Sun, Thomas made the comments as workers resolved a technical glitch. Whilst speaking to the crowd, the singer explained how he cures jet lag whilst making the trip from New York to Melbourne.
“After the show in Melbourne tonight while backstage with some of my Australian friends, it was brought to my attention that I said something that is racist and insensitive,” Thomas wrote in an apology on his official Facebook page.
“Please understand that although it is no excuse, I was completely unaware that in Australia there is a polarizing social issue happening right now involving Indigenous people and alcohol.”
“When I was made aware of it, the ground fell out beneath me, and I realized that people may now see me as the exact opposite of who I am. I’m sitting here in my hotel room completely gutted that a joke that I made was much more relevant to the times in Australia than I realised.”
“I know that words are just words, but to those I offended, I deeply, DEEPLY apologize! Everyone who knows me is aware that for the past 20 years I have been a fervent supporter of civil rights, so I am incredibly embarrassed by my ignorance.”
“I feel like a fool and apologize to all Australians.” In a subsequent statement, Thomas reiterated that he wasn’t aware of the connotations of his joke and further explained his intent behind what was said during his Melbourne show.
“The joke I made was meant to be at no one’s expense but my own. I made a comment about drinking so much on the long flight over that I started to think I was something I’m not,” the singer wrote on Facebook.
After the show in Melbourne tonight while backstage with some of my Australian friends, it was brought to my attention…
Posted by Rob Thomas onSaturday, February 20, 2016
“I said I drank until I thought I was Australian. Then I drank so much that I thought I was a black Australian and then I drank so much I thought I was a little Australian girl. These were 3 things I chose at random to represent 3 things I’m not.”
“I’m not Australian. I’m not black and I’m not a little girl. Again, if I had any idea of the stereotype I would have chosen another example. There was absolutely no malice even in jest.”
“I am truly sorry for how this came across, most of all to the Indigenous people here,” Thomas continued. “Australia has been so good to me for so long that I’m embarrassed I don’t know more about the history and the culture.”
