Earlier this month, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber released a new quarantine-themed song, "Stuck With U," with proceeds donated to the First Responders Children’s Foundation. The song debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It's a great song benefitting a great cause, so naturally, most people were thrilled to see it top the charts. But one person was pissed: rapper 6ix9ine.
6ix9ine's song "Gooba" is currently trailing behind "Stuck With U" at #3 on the charts. And in a video he just posted to Instagram titled "@billboard CAUGHT CHEATING," the rapper accused Ariana and Justin of buying their #1 spot.
"Now let me tell you what happened," 6ix9ine told his followers. "Last Thursday, Ariana with 'Stuck With U' submitted 60,000 units last second."
6ix9ine went on to claim that he launched an investigation into the matter, and found that half of those 60,000 units had been purchased with just a few credit cards:
With the investigation we found this: They purchased half of those [units] with six credit cards. When we asked where were those six credit cards linked to, Billboard said, "We can't disclose that information."
"Understand this. They bought 30,000 or so units with six credit cards. Six credit cards," he alleged, adding: "It's all manipulated. It's all fabricated. You can buy #1s. This is what these artists do. And it's not fair."
Well, Ariana just addressed 6ix9ine's accusations in a lengthy statement on Instagram.
"Anyone who knows me or has followed me for a while knows that numbers aren’t the driving force in anything I do," she wrote. "I’m grateful to sing. Grateful to have people who want to listen. Grateful to even be here at all."
"I didn’t have a number one for the first five years of my career and it didn’t upset me at all because from the bottom of my heart, music is everything to me," she continued.
Ariana went on to explain that she usually doesn't respond to "drama or strange accusations," but felt that 6ix9ine's video had gone "too far":
My fans bought the song. JUSTIN’S fans bought the song. OUR fans bought this song (never more than four copies each, AS THE RULES STATE). They are ride or die motherfuckers and I thank god every day that I have them in my life.
Ariana also called out 6ix9ine for singling her out over Justin Bieber in his video.
"To anybody that is displeased with their placement on the chart this week or who is spending their time racking their brain thinking of as many ways as they can to discredit hardworking women (and only the women for some reason.....), I ask u to take a moment to humble yourself."
She suggested that people in 6ix9ine's position should "be grateful" for the "blessed position" they're in:
I’ve had a lot of “almost number ones” in my career and I never said a goddamn thing because I FEEL GRATEFUL TO EVEN BE HERE. TO WANT TO BE HEARD AT ALL .... and you should feel that way too.
"Congratulations to all my talented-ass peers in the top ten this week. Even number 3," she concluded, referring to 6ix9ine's #3 spot.
And Justin Bieber defended their #1 spot in his own Instagram story. He denied 6ix9ine's claim that half their sales came from six credit cards, writing: "Don't discredit our fan base with false info."
"If you gonna say her name make sure you say mine because it's our song," Justin added.
