*Just days after Chance the Rapper took $1 million out of his pocket and handed it the financially-strapped Chicago Public Schools, a columnist from the Chicago Sun-Times decided to write about the artist…but not about his donation.
The column, written by Mary Mitchell, is all about Chance’s “messy split from the mother of his 18-month-old daughter,” which she claims, “threatens to overshadow the positive vibes created by his $1 million donation to the Chicago Public Schools.”
Mitchell, who is African American, begins by lamenting the fact that she has to “go hard on one of the good guys.” As a Chicagoan, she expressed pride over his Grammy wins, while admitting, “I hadn’t heard a single lyric the 23-year-old penned.”
She also wrote: “Besides, given the amount of bad news coming out of Chicago, it felt good to see a young black man from the South Side in the spotlight for something other than criminal behavior.”
And then she pivoted, writing:
Unfortunately, Chance’s personal affairs are less storied. Court filings show he’s been supporting his daughter financially, but a long-term child-support agreement hasn’t been reached. Last month, Kirsten Corley, the mother of Chance’s 18-month-old daughter, asked in court for temporary child support, as well as money to obtain and furnish a home. She also wants an automobile. Corley, who is unemployed, maintains that she is the child’s primary caregiver.
“Kirsten is essentially being held hostage in Chancelor’s residence as, on one hand, he will not assist her with the support necessary to obtain her own residence unless this entire matter is resolved on his terms, yet on the other hand, Kirsten does not have knowledge of what specific objections Chancelor has to her counter proposal and therefore, it would be impossible to resolve,” states Corley’s child-support petition.
A major bone of contention appears to be Chance’s request for the court to set “a child support award below statutory guidelines.” Typically, child support for one child is about 20 percent of net income. The rap star has asked the court to require that “both parties” contribute to the expenses incurred on behalf of the minor child.
Mitchell concluded:
People love gossip, and nothing’s juicier than the breakup of a celebrity couple. And there’s likely to be a lot of interest in this breakup for another reason. Right now, Chance looks like a hero in the ‘hood. But child support is an emotionally charged issue that plays a big role in the high level of poverty in the black community. If this personal issue is handled callously in the public, Chance the Rapper’s clean-cut image could take a big hit. After all, you can’t hand out money to benefit children you don’t know and come off looking like you are being stingy when it comes to your own child.
Really?
Chance the Rapper fired back immediately with a video posted to his Instagram account featuring himself, his daughter and her mother disproving the article’s claims that they are having issues.
His message to Mitchell: “Ya’ll better do yall’s jobs and stop worrying about how good my family is. Friendly reminder: don’t let anybody get between you and your family. Don’t worry about what other people say about you. Just do your job and everything will be fine.”
Watch below:
Twitter, meanwhile, dragged Mitchell and her newspaper all the way to the Loop and back:
@Steph_TheGreat @Suntimes and a black woman at that
— Elektra (@JadoreDenae) March 9, 2017
Sister girl positions herself as the Sun-Times’ resident defender of Black folks. I think the hell not, not today.
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) March 9, 2017
They also did that story about The Oscar’s tour bus Gary from Chicago being an ex-con. @Suntimes is trash. https://t.co/gdyG6gkATq
— Simone (@SimoneKali) March 9, 2017
She tried it. Mary, Mary, why you buggin’? #chancetherapper #nogooddeed #chicagosuntimes #smearcampaignhttps://t.co/AG5uTcyMqa
— Tackling Tomfoolery (@MalikkaRogers) March 9, 2017
#ChicagoSunTimes can eat a league of dicks. Gotta smear the man that just publically shamed @BruceRauner for failing to provide the money…
— — (@MidwestAthiest) March 9, 2017
#fuck #marymitchell and the #chicagosuntimes I hope nobody buys your shit paper from now on. Always trying to bash positive people. #fuckyou
— Damion Claybrook (@Mr_take_ur_Chic) March 9, 2017
Why would anyone believe a man that donated 1Mil to kids is not taking care of his own ? FOH!!! #ChicagoSuntimes pic.twitter.com/aUlz9meliB
— Hennessy Is Water (@TigerNoTony) March 9, 2017
@deray @Suntimes @MaryMitchellCST @chancetherapper so I don't get it she's writing this cause he's paying his child support
— Menocu (@Menocu12) March 9, 2017
@Suntimes you journalists should be ashamed of yourselves @chancetherapper is making any effort he can to help his community!#GiveHimAChance
— chico mendez (@NEEKTit18) March 9, 2017
