Overview

• On July 31, DJ Akademiks’s X post and TikTok uploads resurfaced clips of Fantano uttering the n-word and a homophobic slur and laughing at a Trayvon Martin joke.
• In an August 1 video, Fantano apologized for quoting those slurs, called his early editorial standards “lax,” and admitted that hitting those words without censorship was unnecessary.
• He disputed the portrayal of the Trayvon Martin clip, arguing it was heavily edited and showed him calling a host “moron” after a mistaken reference.
• Fantano pledged to avoid collaborations or platforms that misalign with his values as part of his effort to prevent future misinterpretations.
• On August 3, Drake posted a close-up of Fantano with laughing emojis on his Instagram Story, driving renewed scrutiny of the controversy.