Akon Insists Rich People Have More Problems Than Poor People: ‘I Was Happier When I Was Poor’

“I Was Actually Happier When I Was Poor,” Akon Clarifies

Akon recently made controversial headlines for some comments he made where he claimed that rich people have more problems than poor people, and he’s refusing to backtrack from his remarks. He initially made the comments when speaking about the passing of actor Michael K. Williams.

The R&B singer and Philanthropist suggested that sometimes, rich people have even more problems than poor people. His comment was misunderstood by many, and it ended up offending some.

He has doubled down on his remark when the media outlet caught up with him again this weekend. Akon re-addressed his comments, explaining that his sentiment comes from personal experience as he has lived both worlds.

“Sometimes, when comments like that are made, like, me, I always speak according to what I’m personally going through myself. Nobody can sit there and tell me that I didn’t go through poverty. I was the young African kid barefooted playing soccer in a village with no electricity, no running water, I know what that felt like.”

He continued, “And believe me, I know what poverty looks like. But I also know what success looks like. And from my personal experience, I’m having more problems successfully dealing with all that comes with success than I had when I was poor. I was actually happier when I was poor.”

Akon however apologized and said that he never meant to come off as arrogant. “Money is not always the cure. There’s rich people right now committing suicide, dying over overdoses.”

“It’s not the money, it’s the mindset. The money creates and breeds so much jealousy and envy, money brings about a lot of evil,” he added.