This week saw a bizarre story about Andre "Christ Bearer" Johnson, a Wu-Tang Clan affiliate who cut off his own penis and tried to commit suicide by leaping from the second story balcony of his North Hollywood apartment. Initially, Wu-Tang posted a statement to their website's blog disavowing the affiliation, but then removed it. Now, RZA has given an interview to XXL in which he clarifies the group's connection to Johnson.

Johnson was one half of Northstar, a California duo who were signed to Wu-Tang's label and had their 2004 album produced by RZA under his Bobby Digital alias. "Christ Bearer is a part of the West Coast Killa Beez, a bunch of young guys that was signed to our company 10 years ago," RZA said to XXL. "Wu-Tang, we’re from the East Coast. But we did invest in some young guys to try and help any hood. He was a guy from the hood that we gave a shot. I don’t make music with him nowadays. But the story—what he did—is incredible. That shit sound mythical.”

RZA noted that Johnson had recently gotten out of jail, and that he'd recently called RZA. "I feel sad for his family first and foremost; I know he has children," he said. "I thought he was a smarter guy than a guy who would do something crazy like that. But at the same time, he been in jail recently, he’s been in trouble. Maybe he’s mentally unstable. Maybe the mental health system should have took a look at him and said, 'You know what? We got to hold on to this guy for a little longer.' Because it’s not any sanity; even if you high, this shit don’t sound sane. This sounds more than high. It sound like mental problems or something that was bothering this man’s mind, and he needed help. It’s sad. I send my respect out to his family."

He concluded by calling the story "tragic," and referred to Johnson as "a guy we gave a chance to." "I liked those guys. I liked what they stood for, young guys trying. I can’t wait to really hear the whole story. It’s sad that it’s Wu-Tang affiliated. It’s like dirty press in a way. I want to know what the fuck moved him to do those things."

Listen to Northstar's debut album below: