Spike Lee Says He Will Not Buy 50 Cent or R. Kelly Albums

Wednesday, July 14, 2004
By: brooklyniteOne

Spike Lee who appears in the August 2004 issue of Playboy speaks on Kelly, who is currently undergoing legal issues charged with having videotaped sex with a 14-year-old girl.

In regards to R. Kelly , Spike Lee says "I can't make that separation." "I saw that DVD with him and those girls. I have a 9-year-old daughter. I look at him in a different light now. I can't listen to his music, and I wouldn't buy a record of his."

He also goes on to speak on 50 Cent questioning the message that the youth are receiving from many Hip-Hop artists.

"What was the title of 50 Cent 's debut album? 'Get Rich or Die Tryin','" Spike Lee says. "When young African-Americans live by the code 'Get rich or die tryin',' it's a very sad state."

A discusssion on morality in Playboy Magazine. Okay, this is all so controversial.

Spike Lee's latest movie, "She Hate Me," hits theaters July 30. The story of 'She Hate Me' is about "sex, greed, money and politics.” Lee was inspired by the recent events involving Enron, Worldcom, Halliburton, Alpelhia, Martha Stewart – the Waksals and Tyco. Greed and fraud seems to have replaced good governance and corporate responsibility. “These corporations had some shaky people at the top. I decided to pair that line of inquiry with the idea of sex and procreation. A volatile mixture. This film is also a commentary on the hypocrisy of America on the issue of sex.

"I wanted to raise questions about the decline of morals and ethics in America – from the boardroom to the bedroom.” Lee feels that in present day America, there appears to be a gray line between morality and ethics. “There’s the feeling that people will do anything for money. Every human being is going to have to make a choice and the choice you make will depend upon your ethics and your morals. People have to deal with the consequences of these choices ” says Lee.

The movie stars 8 Mile 's Anthony Mackie. Lee approached Anthony Mackie about taking the role of Jack while directing him on Sucker Free City, his recent project for Showtime. “I was very impressed with his work on SFC and wanted to keep working with him. There’s a new generation of fine actors being forged right now and I feel that Anthony is one of them,” says Lee.

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