Variety's Brian Steinberg reported on Thursday that "drummer and 'Tonight Show' regular Questlove" became a member of the board of trustees for New York Public Radio. While Steinberg noted that "Questlove is a member of the Philadelphia band The Roots, as well as an author and musical director," he failed to mention that the NBC musician was behind an infamous 2011 attack on former Rep. Michele Bachmann, where his band played the intro to a song title "Lyin' Ass Bitch" by Fishbone.
At the time, Questlove bragged about his planned musical blast on Twitter: "aight late night walkon song devotees: you love it when we snark: this next one takes the cake. ask around cause i aint tweeting title." After the incident, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon apologized in a Twitter post to Bachmann. NBC also issued an apology to the former Republican politician for the offensive jab.
Over a year later, the drummer — born Ahmir Khalib Thompson — explained in a column on the left-wing Salon website that before the representative's appearance, "Bachmann had been offending people left and right with her comments about gay rights and Muslims in America, and she also seemed to have a casual relationship with the truth." He continued that "that was my starting point, and I set out on a mission to find the best song about politics and evasion and untruth."
Questlove later underlined that the controversy "wasn't just a conservative firestorm, but a feminist one. Women were posting letters of support for Michele Bachmann, lining up against me for saying 'bitch.'" He also claimed that he and his band "were saved by the skin of our teeth" from being fired by NBC.
Steinberg pointed out in his article that the public radio organization that Questlove joined has another NBC notable on its payroll: "New York Public Radio, the backer of two New York public-radio stations as well as podcasts featuring hosts such as Alec Baldwin and Jessica Williams, said it added...Questlove; investor David Tisch; and entertainment attorney Marc Chamlin to its board of trustees."
The Variety editor also reported that "Questlove first came to the attention of trustees when he was booked to DJ a fundraising party in 2015. At the event, he gave a short speech about his love for WNYC and its programming, creating enthusiasm among the board to find ways to work with him more closely."
