Why is Tyler, The Creator facing backlash over his D’Angelo tribute? Full controversy explained

Tyler, The Creator recently posted a tribute to the late singer D’Angelo, who passed away at the age of 51 on October 14, 2025. The tribute was met with irrelevant and off-topic comments, with comments coming from fans who did not know who D'Angelo was or who posted jokes about Tyler, The Creator's future projects, as per Complex.

This led to the singer switching off the comments on his tribute post to D'Angelo. Subsequently, there was a discussion among fans and netizens online surrounding the disconnect between the singer's audience and Black artists.

The singer allegedly then posted a tweet about it with the term 'sun dodgers,' a derogatory term for white people. This triggered further controversy regarding the racial dynamics amongst his fanbase, as per Complex.

The controversy was only inflamed when the singer allegedly liked a post that seemingly called out the singer's fan base's relationship with Black music. This created a wave of backlash against him, with netizens online calling him out over his alleged usage of anti-Black statements, as well as statements that could be interpreted as misogynistic. He has also been called out for deleting his old tweets:

"actually i went and got my own. - screenshots of tyler the creator’s tweets (adding keywords so folks cant act like these never existed)."

As exemplified by the tweets quoted below, netizens have not spared any measure in criticizing Tyler, The Creator over his music and statements in the past:

"He made school shooter music, rapped about r*ape, he still to this day says the Hard R… and he’s wondering where the black fans are?" one netizen reacted.

"The same guy who cosplayed as a kkk member and made kkk merch. The same guy who mocks black women in his songs. You can try to pivot, but people will always remember." another netizen reacted.

"Then he can do something about it instead of whining like a b**ch all the time. Its HIS fanbase that HE cultivated purposefully this whole time. He is whining now since he is no longer making music about being racist and r*ping women but has the same audience from then." one commenter stated.

"The evidence of Tyler The Creator being a weirdo has been there for YEARS, but people chose to close an eye because hE’s cOnTrOvErSiaL!!! He’s an actual pedo and a racist prick. But we all know tHa cULtUrE will close en eye once again calling it a “fAkE oUtRaGe fRoM tHe oVhOeS” one a reactor opined.

More on Tyler, The Creator's tribute to D’Angelo

Tyler, The Creator talked about D'Angelo, talking about how he was lucky to have had D'Angelo's Voodoo album and how the world was lucky to have had the late singer's music:

"VOODOO by D'Angelo. citas world had 'left&right' on loop; brown sugar became a staple at home and nothing even matters by ms.hill was on repeat, so i had no doubt that voodoo would deliver. i had no idea that would help shape my musical dna."

The singer added towards the latter half of his tribute:

"I took that and wrote RING RING RING (hence the one mo gin line). i couldnt understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius. thats how special he was. a savant. a true alien. i am so lucky to have gotten my copy of VOODOO when i did. we are so lucky to have been alive to enjoy his art. my musical dna was helped shaped by this man. forever grateful. safe travels."

T

@tylerthecreator

BODY MOVEMENT (DTTG RELEASE PARTY)

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Tyler, The Creator is referencing the D'Angelo album, which was released in 2000. The album is D'Angelo's second studio album. D'Angelo went on to release one more studio album, Black Messiah, in 2014.

Tyler, The Creator's latest studio album, Don't Tap the Glass, was released on July 21, 2025. The album featured guest appearances from Madison McFerrin and Yebba as well as Pharrell Williams.

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