'Here's the truth': Bow Wow issues statement after backlash from crowded club performance

Rapper Bow Wow took to Twitter Tuesday to clear the air after catching some heat for performing at a crowded Houston nightclub Friday while COVID-19 is still ravaging the nation.

"Heres the TRUTH: My only statement," said Bow Wow, real name Shad Moss. "1. It was not a bow wow concert. I simply did one verse to like you. And went back to my section and simply put my mask BACK on. 2. I did not i repeat did not GET PAID for anything. It was my boys (sic) 30th bday weekend and i came down off the love."

In videos circulating on Twitter Saturday, Bow Wow was seen on stage performing his 2005 song "Like You" while partygoers danced below. Though some wore masks, the majority of the crowd did not have on face coverings.

According to videos shared on Instagram stories by people attending the party, Bow Wow was at Clé Houston, a nightclub in Texas. The 33-year-old rapper was there as part of Larry Morrow's All Black Birthday Weekend, which includes a lineup of events over the long weekend with other stars like Meek Mill, Trey Songz and Terrence J.

Bow Wow continued and apologized "if he did anything wrong," noting that he loves Houston and considers it his second home. He also apologized to "the mayor for any confusion." Over the weekend, the mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner let his followers know the events scheduled with the rapper were on his radar and that "this is not the time for concerts."

"I understand the time we are living in so I apologize," Bow Wow said. "My clip was the only clip to go viral and we know why. Anything with my name attached to it reads HEADLINES. Thats why they chose me. I understand this is what i signed up for. I can take all the heat and not sweat."

Over the weekend, people expressed their frustration toward Bow Wow and clubgoers not abiding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's social distancing and mask recommendations.

"I can think of a million better ways to die... but to be struggling on a vent bc you went to see bow wow in the year of our lord 2021...that ain’t it," tweeted @WitYoLo_okin(expletive).

Some people were confused as to why people would go to a Bow Wow concert in the first place.

@makeenz tweeted: "Is it loneliness? Denial? I’m trying to understand what would make so many people do this for anyone let alone BOW WOW."

"Risking it all for BOW WOW..we literally never coming out this pandemic smh," wrote @Offparoletx.

Criticism toward Bow Wow comes as the world hit a grim milestone Friday — 2 million deaths from the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Of those deaths, more than 393,000 have been in the United States. The U.S. has more than 23.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases. .

USA TODAY has reached out Bow Wow and Clé Houston for comment.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bow Wow issues apology after backlash from crowded club performance