Wale

Following allegations published in Metro Weekly and the Washington Blade that he backed out of an appearance at DC Black Pride because he didn’t want to perform at an LGBT event, rapper and D.C. area native Wale has taken to Twitter to defend himself.

“I didn’t even know bout a show..I have done 48 shows this year..and I haven’t booked one personally,” tweets @Wale.

Black Pride board member Earl Fowlkes told Metro Weekly that the organization received word via an agent for the rapper that the show was being canceled because Wale didn’t realize DC Black Pride was a gay event.

“Basically we had an agreement, and we were very clear to the different parties and agents involved that this was an LGBT event,” Fowlkes says.

“What happened is that when the first blast went out that Wale was going to be at Black Pride he got cold feet, and his agent first said Wale wasn’t available because he had to do family stuff. Then we got another e-mail saying he didn’t know what kind of event this was when he agreed to it.”

But on his Twitter account Friday, Wale claimed he didn’t know about the cancellation, and that even though he had been told not to respond, he felt compelled to do so, because “anybody who knows me an familar w/ my music know that I work for PEOPLE..all ppl.”

“So with this said, HipHop music is for everybody..I love all the supporters, and real know real.”