Anthony Fantano, the music critic behind The Needle Drop, has issued a public apology after resurfaced video clips from his past content began circulating online.
Alleged audio has leaked of white closeted hip hop reviewer Anthony Fantano saying the n-word 😳🤦♂️
— Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) July 31, 2025
pic.twitter.com/j7C5TOSK7f
In a video posted to his secondary YouTube channel and on X, Fantano addressed footage from the mid-2010s when he ran a separate channel known as thatistheplan.
Two clips gained attention. The first showed Fantano using the N-word and the F-slur. He explained: “Early on in my YouTube career, I had some pretty lax views when it came to quoting the language of others. My point of view was 'what does it matter? It's not me saying it.'”
He admitted that quoting the words was “in bad form and unnecessary.” He added: “All I can do is take ownership of having quoted these words in this way. And obviously say that I'm sorry. Which, I am, in fact, sorry about this.”
The second clip led to claims that Fantano was laughing at the death of Trayvon Martin. He denied the accusation, explaining: “The way this clip has been presented is a lie. It's been heavily edited.” Fantano said he was reading a viewer’s super chat which confused Trayvon Martin with YouTuber Tre Melvin and that his reaction was directed at the mistake, not the tragedy.
Fantano concluded the video by criticising DJ Akademiks, whose affiliated page helped circulate the clips. He stated he will no longer appear on platforms that share or support ideas he fundamentally disagrees with.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ