George Zimmerman Trial July 11 - H 2013
Getty ImagesThis article first appeared on Billboard.com.
Responding to vocal opposition to his plans, Philadelphia celebrity boxing match promoter Damon Feldman has canceled the upcoming match between rapper DMX and George Zimmerman, the acquitted killer of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin.
Feldman said on Saturday that he was “done” with Zimmerman and decided the “major payday” was not worth it. “I know no one else would walk away like I did,” he announced on Twitter.
Done with George Zimmerman if you had a major payday sitting in front of you, I know no one else would walk away like I did ***Next!!
— Damon Feldman (@hollywoodbox11) February 9, 2014
I made the right decision I could of made big $$$ but I would rather be happy
— Damon Feldman (@hollywoodbox11) February 9, 2014
He then continued that he would give a full explanation and “final decision” during a press conference, set for Tuesday.
In comments to Rolling Stone, Feldman admitted he erred in choosing Zimmerman as one of his “celebrity” boxers. “I looked into the eyes of my son and daughter today and couldn’t imagine someone killing them and getting off scot-free. It just really hurt.”
He said that he could have made $2 million with the fight, “but at least I have my dignity.”
It’s an abrupt turnaround for Feldman, who a day earlier told Philadelphia Magazine that he would not budge. “I’m not quitting this,” he said. “People want me to quit. I would never do that. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s entertainment, man.”
In a tone-deaf move, Feldman announced the match on Feb. 5, which would have been Trayvon Martin’s 19th birthday. Zimmerman shot and killed the teenager in his Florida neighborhood after following him as he walked back from a convenience story.
Though DMX expressed desire to “beat the living f— out out of” the former neighborhood watchman in comments earlier this week, the troubled rapper never officially signed on for the fight, scheduled to take place March 15 at an undetermined location. A press conference set for Tuesday — which presumably would have laid out details for the match — was canceled on Friday after it was determined Zimmerman would not attend.
A petition on Change.org to stop the match has over 100,000 signatures and a WhiteHouse.gov petition has close to 28,000.
