It’s another year and another controversy between South Carolina and LSU.
Last season, a bench-clearing skirmish dominated news headlines for weeks. Months later, things had seemingly calmed down—Flau’jae Johnson even poked fun at the situation last summer—ahead of the two SEC powerhouses meeting again this year.
Until the end of the game, everything was going rather well during a January 24 top-five matchup in Columbia, South Carolina, between the Gamecocks and the Tigers. However, South Carolina’s in-arena DJ played a song by Johnson’s late father, again embroiling the two teams in drama.
Let’s dive in with what we know as this story unfolds:
This is a developing story and will be updated.
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson calls out South Carolina’s DJ
South Carolina had a dominant 66-56 win over LSU on Friday, January 24, that nearly went off without a hitch (or any scuffles). But a day later, Flau’jae Johnson called out South Carolina and its DJ for what she felt was inappropriate and in poor taste.
“I’ll take my L on the chin, but this [is] just nasty behavior,” Johnson wrote on X (Formerly Twitter). “[Nothing] funny bout that.”
She also shared a screenshot of an Instagram story in which the Gamecocks’ in-arena DJ said, “My bad,” after a fan noted that a song — “Cut Friends” — from the late rapper Camoflauge, Johnson’s father, was played at the end of LSU and South Carolina’s game.
Camouflage (real name Jason Johnson) was unfortunately killed in a 2003 shooting before the Tigers guard was born.
I’ll take my L on the chin, but this just nasty behavior. Nun funny bout that pic.twitter.com/BKYGgGvfGo
— Flaujae 4️⃣ (@Flaujae) January 26, 2025
South Carolina’s DJ apologizes for the song choice
By the evening of January 25, the Gamecocks’ DJ, who operates under the name DJ T.O., apologized on X for the song choice during the previous day’s matchup. Here’s what she said:
“I apologize for playing Cut Friends Instrumental at the game yesterday. It is never my intent to disrespect anyone or offend anyone when my job is to have fun and make sure other people have a good time.”
“I’m from the Lowcountry/C-Port area. So, I’ve been playing it for years, even at other games, but I shouldn’t have played it at yesterday’s game. I play it on every radio station I’ve ever done from [North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina and] grew up on Camouflage.”
“So, it’s never played with ill intent or as a joke. I can’t control how anyone takes it, but I [can] take responsibility [and] apologize.”
LSU coach Kim Mulkey offered words of encouragement for Flau’jae Johnson
As tensions continued, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey was asked how she felt about the song controversy. “All I care about is Flau’jae,” Mulkey explained to the media.
“All I care about is her family. What South Carolina does is South Carolina’s doings. I love that kid. I could not imagine her thoughts when it went down, but she’s just so joyful. She is so wonderful for LSU and our game.”
Kim Mulkey on South Carolina DJ controversy:
“All I care about is Flau’jae. All I care about is her family. What South Carolina does is South Carolina’s doings. I love that kid. I could not imagine her thoughts when it went down.
“She’s so wonderful for LSU & our game.”#LSU pic.twitter.com/LVzlw2FTE5
— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) January 26, 2025
South Carolina Athletics released a statement about the LSU song controversy
The South Carolina Athletics Department issued a statement shortly after Mulkey’s response.
The statement addressed the DJ’s music selection and Instagram post pointed at Johnson, saying, “We regret that it came to that in our venue after a game that saw both teams capture the level of national attention that women’s basketball has earned.”
The department apologized to Johnson and announced that its DJ was suspended for the team’s next game (against Tennessee on January 27) and would meet with her to address expectations moving forward.
