J. Cole was "instantly embarassed" by his "highly offensive" words spat on Drake's "Jodeci Freestyle" track. Responding to the Anti Bullying Alliance's petition against his "I'm artistic, you n----s is autistic, retarded" line, Cole wrote an open letter addressed to autism advocacy group Autism Speaks, and posted it to his blog.

"Last week, when I first saw a comment from someone outraged about the lyric, I realized right away that what I said was wrong," the 27-year-old "Power Trip" MC wrote. "...What makes the crime worse is that I should have known better.

"To the entire autism community who expressed outrage, I’m moved and inspired by your passion, and I’m amazed at how strong you are as a unit."
The petition, now closed, had collected over 4,500 signatures since its July 13 posting.
Cole continued in his remorseful letter with an apology. "To anyone suffering from autism, either mildly or severely, I am sorry. I’m bound to make mistakes in my life, but in my heart I just want to spread love.

"I want to educate myself more on autism," he wrote, expressing high regards for those suffering from the disorder (1 in every 88 children are affected). "You deserve medals, not disrespect."

BET.com is your #1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

(Photo: Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images for BET)