Carlos Santana Apologizes For Hateful Comments At Concert

Carlos Santan playing guitar on stage at a concert.

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The "Black Magic Woman" singer is walking back the anti-trans remarks from a video that went viral.

Carlos Santana issued an apology after a video clip from a concert surfaced showing the Grammy winner making anti-trans remarks.

“I am sorry for my insensitive comments. They don’t reflect that I want to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs,” Santana wrote in a statement shared with Billboard on August 24. “I realize that what I said hurt people and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to the transgender community and everyone I offended.”

This statement comes on the heels of a video showing the “Smooth” singer making comments about trans people that many found to be transphobic. “When God made you and me, before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are,” he said in the video from a concert in Atlantic City, N.J. last month. “Later on, when you grow out of it, you see things, and you start believing that you could be something that sounds good, but you know it ain’t right. Because a woman is a woman and a man is a man — that’s it. Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that’s your business. I’m OK with that.”

In an earlier statement also sent to Billboard, the legendary guitarist backpedaled, but he didn’t say his initial remarks were wrong. In the statement the “Oye Como VA” singer said he wants “to honor and respect all person’s ideals and beliefs whether they are LGBTQ+ or not.”

Santana’s statement continued, “This is the planet of free will and we have all been given this gift. I will now pursue this goal to be happy and have fun, and for everyone to believe what they want and follow in your hearts without fear. It takes courage to grow and glow in the light that you are and to be true, genuine, and authentic. We grow and learn to shine our light with Love and compliments. Have a glorious existence. Peace.”

At a time when anti-trans rhetoric and violence is on the rise and politicians like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are passing laws that strip trans people of their rights and access to gender-affirming care, it is especially disappointing for the LGBTQ+ community to hear these remarks from such a talented artist.