Michael Jackson’s estate has publicly shared their disdain for Sexyy Red’s vulgar filled flip of the King of Pop’s #1 charting record “Beat It” after footage of St Louis native’s “just eat it version” broke the internet this week.
Speaking to Billboard on Wednesday, a representative for Jackson’s estate said the estate had not been notified before the video went public. “We were totally unaware of this. The use of the music is unauthorized.”
In a post on X, Sexyy Red described the video as a “TRIBUTE TO DA BEST.” The reaction online was immediate and intense. Critics flooded social media, with some users saying she “deserved to be sued for making us listen to this.” I joked that she “put a creative spin on it,” and the fanbase did not take it lightly. Michael Jackson remains deeply beloved, and his catalog is treated as sacred by many fans.
On her version, she raps:
“Just eat it, just eat it / You better not nut fast because I hate a minute man / And if that d—k is trash, I’m telling all my friends / I’ll beat your a— and we bout to throw them hands.”
The estate has historically been selective about approving samples, so the appearance of the record in this context sparked confusion. Many fans questioned how such a reinterpretation could be cleared, particularly given Jackson’s carefully managed legacy.
Hip-hop pioneer Monie Love also weighed in, calling the move “beyond disrespectful.” “Whoever cleared the ‘Beat It’ sample for Sexyy Red, I hope they know they not seeing heaven,” she wrote on X. “Playing with MJ name and discography like that is beyond disrespectful!”
Sexyy Red has not indicated that the record was intended to offend. Sampling iconic songs has long been part of hip-hop culture, and “Beat It,” released in 1982 as part of Thriller, remains one of the most commercially successful records in music history.
