Daniel Caesar Says Fans Were Right to Cancel Him After YesJulz Controversy
Written by b87fm on 01/21/2026
Daniel Caesar is owning his past.
While making the press rounds for his upcoming album Son of Spergy, the Canadian singer reflected on the controversy that engulfed him in 2019—and admitted his fans were justified in turning on him.
During a Jan. 16 interview on The Breakfast Club, Caesar revisited the backlash he faced after publicly defending influencer YesJulz, who was widely criticized at the time for promoting a T-shirt featuring a racial slur. The shirt read, “Ni**as lie a lot,” sparking accusations that YesJulz was engaging in cultural appropriation and disrespecting Black culture.
At the height of the controversy, Caesar took to Instagram Live to defend his friend, openly admitting he was intoxicated and declaring, “I’m trying to get canceled right now.” He went on to question why YesJulz—and white people more broadly—were receiving criticism, arguing that the backlash represented a lack of “equality” and suggesting that Black people should be able to “take a joke.”
I still can’t believe Daniel Caesar ruined his career by defending yes Julz. He told us to cancel him and we did. Lmfaoooo incredible
— Levita Alize Jenkins (@recogniZE_TAste) April 4, 2022
Years later, Caesar sees the situation very differently.
“As time has passed, I’m like, ‘Oh, they were 100 percent right,’” he said, acknowledging that his comments missed the mark and failed to recognize the power dynamics at play.
I was gonna help promote Daniel Caesar’s new album then I remembered he told us to cancel him and that black folks need to stop being so race-sensitive
— Redacted (@redactedobscure) November 12, 2025
He went on to explain that tolerating or excusing disrespect from people who have historically marginalized communities like his own is a loss of self-respect. “It’s undignified,” Caesar said. “You’re giving up your own dignity.”
The comments align with earlier reflections he shared in a 2023 interview with Apple Music’s Nadeska Alexis, where he took full accountability for his actions.
“I completely understand the response,” he said at the time. “After taking time to get over myself and to really honestly look at everything that was happening, I was wrong. I was wrong, and I’m sorry about that.”
With Son of Spergy on the way, Caesar appears determined to move forward with greater self-awareness—owning his mistakes rather than distancing himself from them.
