Biden Butchers LL Cool J's Name, Corrects Himself After Calling Rapper 'Boy' - The Messenger
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Biden Butchers LL Cool J’s Name, Corrects Himself After Calling Rapper ‘Boy’

The president was helping present the musician with a Phoenix Award at a Congressional Black Caucus event

NCIS: Los Angeles (LL Cool J)Erik Voake/CBS

President Joe Biden struggled with rapper LL Cool J's name while speaking at an awards dinner in Washington D.C. on Saturday night.

Rappers LL Cool J, real name James Todd Smith, and MC Lyte, real name Lana Michelle Moorer, received Phoenix Awards for their musical contributions at the Congressional Black Conference's 52nd Annual Legislative Conference.

"Two of the great artists of our time representing the groundbreaking legacy of hip hop in America , LL Jay Cool J," Biden said at the dinner pausing as he fumbled the rapper's name and the audience laughed.

The president then corrected himself when he referred to the artist as "boy" when admiring his biceps.

"By the way that boy — that man’s got biceps bigger than my thighs," he said before moving on.

Conservative outlets were quick to post the clip to social media.

Biden has earned pushback before over his use of the word "boy" in reference to Black men. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., released a statement in June criticizing Biden over his use of the word after the president discussed having "civility" with segregationist lawmakers of the past.

"You don’t joke about calling black men 'boys,'" Booker said.

Biden at the time defended himself by saying he understood

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