Rapper 360 defends comments about 'racist' Australian flag

Rapper 360 has defended comments he made on national TV that the Australian flag has become a symbol of racism.

The hip hop artist, real name Matt Colwell, made the comments on the ABC's Q&A last night after an audience member asked about perceptions of Australians overseas.

"There is so many (sic) racist bigots in this country and they're everywhere," the Melbourne-based rapper said.

"The Australian flag — to me — has now become… I identify that with racism."

Colwell made a specific reference to drunken, xenophobic Australians with "an Australian flag wrapped around their neck" who abuse people.

"I've seen it so many times. It's pathetic," he said on Q&A.

Viewers reacted to Colwell's comments immediately, taking to Twitter and Facebook to voice criticism and support.

"How is being fearful of losing our Australian culture racist?" one upset commenter asked the rapper on one post.

One support wrote: "100% agree. Its (sic) bogan racist Aussies who have tarnished our flag not foreigners."

Many of the posts included pictures of the Australian flag with the controversial slogan: "If you don't love it, leave."

Colwell took to his Facebook page today to defend himself, saying: "I can see I've ever offended some of you with my statements about Australia and the Australian flag… If ur (sic) not a racist I was not referring to you."

Earlier he posted a link to 2012 article about New Year's Eve survey that found "Aussie flag flyers more racist".

After releasing a song close to Australia Day this year, the outspoken hip hop artists told FairFax "I don't want to have fans that are racist pigs (sic)" coming to his gigs.