In record timing, social media humorists have made new song titles, album covers and GIFs based off the news that Atlanta-affiliated rapper 21 Savage is an “unlawfully present United Kingdom national,” according to a spokesman with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The 26-year-old was arrested Sunday for allegedly overstaying his visa, which expired in 2006. The rapper reportedly moved to the U.S. on a visa in 2005, according to ICE spokesman Bryan Cox. As of Sunday, Savage, whose real name is Sha Yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, had been placed in “removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts,” Cox said.
Many fans responded with awe after hearing that the long-time ambassador for Atlanta is not in fact a native of the DeKalb area that he often raps about. In 2017, many learned more about the Grammy Award-nominated rapper’s Atlanta upbringing when he was featured in an episode of Vice’s series “Noisey.”
Me, learning that 21 Savage is actually English
— Karl Drogo (@karlrhoden) February 3, 2019
“HE FROM ENNNNDDDDDZZZZ???” pic.twitter.com/QjXwWC5a1R
Mockery of the Atlanta-based artist has ensued since the news broke, with some fans using his most recent release “I Am > I Was,” which was No. 1 on the Billboard 200, to poke fun at the rapper’s authenticity.
21 savage updated album cover pic.twitter.com/DbLZEYtqrp
— Compulsive Tweet Stealer (@Wigion1) February 3, 2019
21 Savage when he says he’s in the booth pic.twitter.com/tEDsSZ4TLJ
— Aiden (@Aiden1_) February 3, 2019
Though most of Sunday night Twitter was chock-full of gibes at 21 Savage's expense, one tweet from singer Demi Lovato brought immediate backlash. The singer-actress tweeted that the memes about Savage's deportation were her "favorite part of the Super Bowl." Shortly after her tweet, some, including rapper Wale, condemned her for being entertained by 21 Savage's deportation and arrest.
Wale told Demi Lovato to “Go Queen” and that is the new phrase moving forward cause white privilege would’ve spun this if it went the other way pic.twitter.com/ZCzXW7kbO3
— 🇧🇧 Mi Nuh Trust None a Dem Boy🇧🇧 (@_Law26) February 4, 2019
Yall: *jokes about 21 savage being british*
— thot hokage (@_BlackCotton_) February 4, 2019
Demi lovato: yoo lmaooo
Yall: pic.twitter.com/Sw17iy4l4k
The tweet has since been deleted, and Lovato later deactivated her Twitter account. Before she did, she sent a message to her followers saying “this is why I don’t tweet anymore.”
Twitter: *cracks 21 savage joke*
— jdot (@justlikejdot) February 4, 2019
Demi Lovato: man these jokes are great
Twitter: pic.twitter.com/LK02lKbSms
Twitter: *laughs and makes fun of 21 savage*
— BlacKakashi 🇧🇸 (@N8TheGr8__) February 4, 2019
Demi Lovato: *Laughs like everybody else*
Twitter: “BOI I KNOW YOU AINT LAUGHING”
Demi Lovato: pic.twitter.com/yNVXk6apGj
Though many panned Lovato, some noted that it was hypocritical to come down so hard on the singer, considering the jokes were overflowing about 21 Savage from thousands of social media users.
so yall bullied demi lovato into deactivating her twitter for laughin at the same thing yall were laughin at? yall weird asf pic.twitter.com/LO6WMfLLDn
— 💍 (@getwells00nn) February 4, 2019
Taunting tweets like the ones below were met with responding memes, laughing GIFs, retweets and likes on Twitter Sunday.
Wait.. 21 Savage is from the UK? 🥴🤔 pic.twitter.com/fuwoAsAd80
— Louis (@Lost_Guided) February 3, 2019
When some tells me 21 savage is from the UK
— THE WIERD ONE 😎 (@Mr_splendid19) February 3, 2019
Me : pic.twitter.com/prAetORm7W
21 Savage being from the United Kingdom has to be the biggest plot twist of 2019 pic.twitter.com/G5RObbA48L
— woah WOAH (@ygzwild) February 3, 2019
There were some social media commentators that came to the philanthropic hip-hop artist’s defense. In recent years, he has ignited a “Bank Account” campaign to spread financial literacy and encourage teenagers and adults to invest. He has also been instrumental in efforts to support low-income children in metro Atlanta, with back-to-school drives and more.
Uh 21 Savage was born outside of the US but has been in Atlanta since he was 13. He’s now 26. He can claim ATL all he likes. Don’t do ICE’s work for them and turn this story into 21 being some kind of “phony” or whatever. He shouldn’t have been deported and that’s what matters.
— NEXUS 7 DEMARCO (@Clarknova1) February 3, 2019
Some found issue with the fact that 21 Savage could be deported after several years − and arrests− in America.
Also, there is no way that law enforcement didn’t know this about 21 Savage until now.
— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) February 3, 2019
He has a felony and this would have come up. He also travels the world and likely PAYS TAXES HERE.
ICE is dangerous and must go
21 Savage rapped about the immigration issue at the boarder and the Flint Michigan water crisis on The Tonight Show
— ⛓ lil HU$+LЄR ⛓ (@jayherbo910) February 3, 2019
5 days later, he got arrested by the ICE because his visa expired 14 years ago. He is expected to be deported back to the UK.
pic.twitter.com/4vPTnpzgvO
Not to be that person but 21 savage caught a felony drug charge in 2014 and they didn’t realize he was illegal but now that he’s actually making strides to make the black community better he gets deported? pic.twitter.com/1TZU1OKNUX
— Trish 🇸🇱 (@A1Trisha) February 3, 2019