Jay-Z Can't Occupy All Streets, Yanks T-Shirts From Rocawear Website

"Otis" rapper removes "Occupy All Streets" t-shirts after facing controversy

By Brandi Fowler Nov 13, 2011 11:31 PMTags
Jay-ZKevin Mazur/Wireimage

One of Jay-Z's "99 Problems" might have something to do with his "Occupy All Streets" T-shirts.

After a perceived attempt to cash in on the Occupy Wall Street movement by hawking T-shirts with the slogan "Occupy All Streets," the $22 shirts were suddenly removed from the "Otis" rapper's Rocawear website Saturday with no explanation (not yet, anyway).

So, what went down?

Jay-Z reportedly came under fire after word got out that Rocawear didn't plan to donate any of the proceeds from the sale of the shirts to the Occupy Wall Street movement (which was later confirmed by a rep for the clothing company). 

"The 'Occupy All Streets' T-shirt was created in support of the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement," a Rocawear rep said in a statement to Gawker. "Rocawear strongly encourages all forms of constructive expression, whether it be artistic, political or social," 

"'Occupy All Streets' is our way of reminding people that there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street. At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement."

Needless to say, leaders of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement were not amused.

"To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as #occupywallstreet," an Occupy Wall Street leader who goes by the pseudonym "Grim" told TMZ.

Meanwhile, Russell Simmons, who is an avid supporter of the Occupy Wall Street movement (and was photographed with Jay-Z Monday as he sported his "Occupy All Streets" t-shirt) tweeted that the shirt in question "took #OccupyWallStreet to the next level."

The shirts, which were sold for $22 a pop, first became available Friday.