New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey’s Twitter account and controversial tweet on November 13; Photo: Twitter

New York Post columnist and long-time NBA analyst Peter Vecsey has come under fire for tweeting rap lyrics that contain a racial epithet.

Vecsey edited a verse from The Notorious B.I.G.‘s “Niggas Bleed” in response to an on court scuffle between New York Knick center Enes Kanter and LeBron James. Vecsey applauded Kanter’s toughness, tweeting: “Imagine him being scared of a n***** who breathes the same air as him.”

It didn’t take long for the Twitter-verse to respond. Many condemned the usage of the racial epithet, calling it “trash talking gone wrong.” The always opinionated Vecsey (who is white) didn’t back down, claiming that it was everyone else’s problem for being offended not his. Reaching a breaking point, Vecsey tweeted, “So white people cant quote rap lyrics?!?! Cant sing them?!?! Bull shit!!”

Vecsey’s obliviousness to the situation comes days after Ta-Nehisi Coates explained to an audience (and subsequently the world) why it is not okay for white people to use the n-word — even if it is in their favorite rap song.

Vecsey has always been opinionated and it isn’t the first time he’s drawn the ire of the public. Some, however, have overacted calling him a racist, which is an unfair assumption to make. While he is a prick some times, he’s been a fixture in the NBA for decades and if he was racist it most certainly would have come out in a much more damning way.

If anything Vecsey might be too comfortable, which is why he felt like he was justified in tweeting the n-word. But as Coates explained there is a clear line and it’s as simple as not crossing it, no matter how down for the cause you think you are.