Miguel has posted a lengthy statement on Instagram detailing what he calls more than a year of racism, harassment, stalking, invasions of privacy and false allegations directed at himself, his partner Margaret Zhang, and their child.
The singer-songwriter singled out a wave of "racist and anti-Asian attacks directed at my partner – including comments and DMs, as well as abusive comments about my child" as having "crossed a line that should require no explanation." He said he understands the scrutiny that comes with a public career, but drew a firm distinction between fair criticism and abuse. "I can accept the realities that come with doing anything in public, but racism, threats, harassment, stalking, invasions of privacy, and targeting of children are abuse. Not opinion," he wrote.
Miguel did not name any specific individual or outlet, but he called out those who spread or profit from the behavior. "Responsibility also lies with organizations and individuals that knowingly amplify or enable racism, harassment, or false allegations for attention and engagement," he said, adding that people cannot excuse the conduct by framing it as commentary. "It doesn’t become acceptable because someone dresses it up as criticism, fandom, speculation, or 'concern.'"
The statement comes after Miguel released Caos last year, his first full-length album in eight years. The record drew on his divorce, his experience becoming a father, and an exploration of his Mexican roots, delivered through his signature alternative R&B style. Reviewing the album, Rolling Stone wrote that it is "an album about searching for meaning as you try your best to process a world on fire — and it’s a mood that should resonate with any honest listener."
In closing his statement, Miguel thanked fans who have "treated my family with kindness, dignity, and respect," while issuing a direct warning to those who haven't. "If you participate in this behavior, you are not supporting me. You are not part of this community," he wrote. "Where legal and ethical lines have been crossed, action has been and will continue to be taken."
Photo: Polymagou, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
