News: Fiona Apple
Texan cops tell singer-songwriter to "shut-up and sing" in response to her criticism of them
The extraordinary beef between Fiona Apple and the Texan cops has taken an utterly bizarre turn. In a move which could be descibed as creepy, patronising and supremely sexist, a representative of the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s Department has penned an open letter (below) to the singer-songwriter in response to her slamming of the way she was treated in jail after being arrested for marijuana possession. It ends: “Just shut-up and sing.”
Apple got rumbled with a small amount of weed last Thursday in the Texan town of Sierra Blanca, where, previously, Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson and Armie Hammer had all been busted for possesion. She was released from prison on Saturday, having posted $10,000 bail, and vented her frustration during a performance in Houston that evening at the way she had been handled by four unnamed law enforcement officers, suggesting their behaviour was “inappropriate and possibly illegal”.
“I’ll make you fucking famous any time you ask,” she threatened and, of course, footage ended up on YouTube.
And now this shocking retaliation by the police:
First, Honey, I’m already more famous than you, I don’t need your help. However, it would appear that you need mine….
Two weeks ago nobody in the country cared about what you had to say, — now that you’ve been arrested it appears your entire career has been jump-started. Don’t worry Sweetie, I won’t bill you…
Next, have you ever heard of Snoop, Willie or Armand Hammer? Maybe if you would read something besides your own press releases, you would have known BEFORE you got here, that if you come to Texas with dope, the cops will take your DOPE away and put YOU in jail…
Even though you and I only met briefly in the hallway, I don’t know you but I’m sure you’re an awesome and talented young woman and even though I’m not a fan of yours, I am sure there are thousands of them out there, and I’m sure that they would just as soon you get this all behind you and let you go back to what you do best — so my last piece of advice is simple “just shut-up and sing.”
Sincerely,
Rusty Fleming
[Via Pitchfork]
