Rosalind Wiseman

Katie Couric and rapper Lil Wayne

Admittedly, I am a few weeks behind on mainstream media.  I’d like to thank the genius who invented the DVR. I can’t comprehend life without it.

Anyhow, did you happen to catch Katie Couric interviewing Lil’ Wayne during her Grammy special? If so, were you as appalled as I? It was painful, and I kept waiting for him to laugh and tell Katie he was just messing with her. He didn’t. If you missed it see below. If you don’t feel like wasting 11 minutes of your life, I will sum it up below.

Katie Couric Interviews Lil Wayne, Part 1

Katie Couric Interviews Lil Wayne, Part 2

The Good

Lil’ Wayne opens up about his absent father and sheds a glimpse of humanism through his gangster tattoos and “grillz.” His father’s name is Dwayne, and since he has never been a part of his life, Lil’ Wayne dropped the “D” to disassociate himself. Lil’ Wayne also discusses how growing up in poverty made him determined to be successful. “If you work hard you’re going to get good, and good turns to great.” True that, Lil’. He also never writes down the lyrics to his music. They come straight from his bleeding heart, and he remembers them.  A true talent, and truth be told, I enjoy some of them.

The Bad

Marijuana, gang banging, and cough syrup, oh my! Wayne openly admits to the aforementioned and justifies his illegal activities with a sense of confidence that is eerie. What you do on your own time is your business; I just have an issue with him in a role-model position. I spend a lot of time telling my students this is not the way to go. When Couric asked if he would ever stop smoking pot he said, “no,” because “I’m a rapper. That’s who I am, Miss Katie, and I am a gangster. I do what I want, and I love to smoke.” Successful he may be, and good for him, but the average easily influenced adolescent mind does not have the cognitive ability to understand that most people who live his lifestyle don’t end up on top of the billboard charts.

In addition, I was surprised by Couric’s nonchalant, playful responses to all of Wayne’s comments. I kept waiting for her to “go Couric” on him, but it never happened. What if he were a non-celebrity father of two young children and openly admitted to drug use and gang activity?  I believe Couric’s reaction may have been slightly different. I wonder what Couric is going to say when she interviews Michael Phelps about his pot smoking pandemonium? Will she go bowling with him and laugh about his bong choice? I doubt it. I am willing to bet my right hand (and that is my writing hand) that she will ask those hard questions, 100% Couric style.

The Ugly

The “grillz.” Seriously?

While these events frustrate me, probably more than the average person, I am thankful that I have the knowledge to see the ridiculousness in these social media surges. There is a double standard that I cannot quite identify. Yet.