One popular internet personality, IShowSpeed, was left speechless and visibly agape during a recent talent show livestream when a contestant “took it too far.” The controversial exchange happened amid a brief musical performance that ignited discussion online around cultural sensitivity, limitations to lyrics in rap, and real-time chat moderation.
The show began the way most IShowSpeed streams loud, disorganized, and full of surprises. The special guest was an Asian woman with glasses who had boldly taken the opportunity to perform for the thousands watching live. Her song choices are that of Kanye West and NBA YoungBoy. She nailed the lyrics word for word with such accuracy that she clearly had a great music memory and the fearlessness that TV audiences couldn’t handle.
In the middle of performing the Kanye West song “WW3,” she began to recite lyrics including the term N-word repeatedly and without any hesitation. Speed nodded in approval, getting hyped with the energy. His face darkened, but only for a moment. The second the racial slur went out, his face went white as a sheet. He stared at the screen momentarily, leaned over, and repeated, “What?” His reaction said it all. As uncomfortable and speechless as she was, the lady continued through the performance unapologetically or did not understand the repercussions of her words. The scene quickly went viral, with the comments sections and forums split down the middle. The fans of IShowSpeed are used to some crazy moments, but this one cuts differently.
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This is not the first time Speed has landed in situations that tickle up against racial tension. Three years later, in 2024, a visit to Bulgaria produced the same cultural confoundment. The racial slur, however, did not appear to draw alarm from people in the vicinity, and locals freely used the N-word in his presence, apparently not realizing the term’s historical baggage and offensive connotation. And this month, he was in China, participating in a freestyle battle, when his opponent, in the middle of a rhyme, offhandedly hurled the insult at him.
Speed’s face told the story as he disliked what he heard. Although he didn’t turn off the stream or the contestant, his shocked silence and recurring questions provided an awkward aura that his supporters have rarely been forced to witness. So long as rap remains the predominant force driving global pop culture, moments like this serve as an all too real reminder that some words, even if they’re part of the music, have a gravity that extends far beyond the beat. The repercussions of this livestream moment are still unfolding, and for IShowSpeed, it’s just the latest surprise episode in a career full of internet-breaking moments.
