Looks like Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons and comedian/actor Bill Cosby had a run in last week at the Jackie Robinson Annual Awards Dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City (VIEW OUR POST ABOUT THE EVENT HERE).
Russell presented Sean “Diddy” Combs the ‘Renaissance Man of the Decade’ award and said as he went to apologize to Cosby about criticizing him last year, Bill responded by saying, “Get the FUCK out of my face” to Simmons.
Simmons wrote a long piece about the little episode on his blog and you can check out a snippet below:
Bill Cosby was staying off the stage, although I had seen him as Master of Ceremonies all night. He was not present as I stood on stage prepared to give Sean Combs the “Renaissance Man Of The Decade, ” his well-deserved award at the annual Jackie Robinson foundation event.
Sean had delivered from Broadway to Hollywood to music to fashion to liquor and countless other industries plus done so much social political and philanthropic work in his young career.He has been a true role model to me.
So there I was about to give the man of the hour his award but still I wondered where Bill was. I knew I had once said he was too judgmental of black folks and especially rappers, but I also knew for sure that he had dedicated his life to the betterment of our people and I have come to understand his feelings that we and the next generation had let him down. We didn’t march through the doors he, Harry Belafonte and the Civil Rights movement opened.
When I look back, I feel remorse for judging him. And it has been a source of a “rap beef” for years. He has been critical of the poets but I have maintained that the entertainment, especially most of the poets, are simple reflections of cultures of truth.
Anyhow, I wanted to find him to apologize to tell him I was sorry about my statements and to tell him that I loved him. Suddenly I turned and he was behind the curtain and I said “I love you” and he responded on some real hip-hop, “Get the fuck out my face!”
His next move was straight up old school pre b-boy hood shit. He walked by me and bumped me with his shoulder as I walked off stage after presenting my award to Sean, just like the cool ass character in “Let’s Do It Again.” I then loved him even more. He’s from the same hood I’m from, just got a lucky break like me, cause I am those suffering men. And after that elbow I knew he was too. [ READ MORE.. ]
