Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’s High School Ban Gets Lifted

Earlier this week, reports circulated that a California high school declined a $10,000 fine arts grant from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis after parents and administrators cited lyrics from their music that "promote misogyny and drug use." Immediately upon hearing that the grant and appearance from the powerhouse duo were declined, students from the high school started a petition and now, according to The Orange County Register, the petition and protest was successful and both the appearance and fine arts grant are back on.

"After careful consideration of varying viewpoints on all sides of the issue surrounding a possible visit by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, it is my hope that we have developed a plan that will meet the needs of our diverse students," said the school's principal Deni Christensen in a statement. "In recognition of our students' efforts in winning this contest, and a desire to provide students the option of hearing a presentation regarding the music industry, the importance of music education and the arts, along with a Q+A session with the two artists, we will be holding this event after school hours in December."

The petition, which was posted at 8 P.M. Monday, had over 6,000 signatures by Tuesday morning. The protest was led by Quinn Darling, the school's Associated Student Body vice president, who took to Instagram to state Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's case. "The one thing my peers, our parents and I want to convey is that we deserve a fair to say in these decision," Darling told The OC Register. "The ultimate decision was never publicized to parents or us, so even though six or however many parents who were initially against (the visit), there are maybe 300 parents who would've supported it."