Celebrity1 min(s) read
Published 08:03 01 Jul 2020 GMT
Actor Terry Crews has been met with backlash on Twitter following a tweet that said "we must ensure #blacklivesmatter doesn’t morph into #blacklivesbetter".
The 51-year-old star tweeted to his 1.5 million followers on June 30:
"If you are a child of God, you are my brother and sister. I have family of every race, creed and ideology.
"We must ensure #blacklivesmatter doesn’t morph into #blacklivesbetter."
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However, many were unimpressed with Crews' choice of words, with some branding the actor "disrespectful" and "embarrassing".
US comedian and activist Franchesca Ramsey replied to Crews, saying that his comments were the "definition of a strawman argument". She wrote:
"Terry. what in the actual hell? this is the very definition of a strawman argument. why would you suggest a movement created to advocate for the prosecution of cops/citizens responsible for racially motivated killings could somehow morph into 'we’re better'."
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Another Twitter user replied to Crews' tweet, saying: "Its actually embarrassing how intent you are at undermining people who are fighting for their humanity to be viewed EQUALLY.
"Nobody is taking it there except you & those uncomfortable with having to address the elephant in the room. I implore you please do better, this ain't it."
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And a third wrote to the actor: "I dont understand why ur posts are so pandering to (unfounded) arguments against the BLM movement. No one, NOT A DAMN SOUL, said #blacklivesbetter.
"This is being willfully destructive, disingenuous, w microaggressions towards BLM. I tire of saying 'do better'....but DO BETTER."
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Bernice King - the youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King - also replied to Crews, saying:
"We’re so far from that bridge, Terry. #BlackLivesMatter is, in part, a rallying cry and a protest slogan to galvanize people into doing the justice work needed to derail the deaths, dehumanization and destruction of Black lives that racism causes.
"Justice is not a competition."
Crews did personally reply to King, writing: "You are right, @BerniceKing. I just want to make sure it stays that way. No competition, just creativity. #blacklivesmatter"
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This is not the first time the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star has faced criticism over his tweets during the ongoing protests.
In early June, the star was slammed for tweeting: "Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth.
"Like it or not, we are all in this together."
Many, including his former Everybody Hates Chris co-star Tyler James Williams, were critical of the actor's message. Williams replied to Crews' initial tweet, stating:
"Terry, brother, I know your heart and you know I have love for you and always will. No one is calling 4 black supremacy & the narrative that we are hurts our cause & our people. We’re just vigorously vetting our 'allies' because time & time again they have failed us in the past."
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Crews responded to a separate tweet from Williams, in which he said that he was not trying to call Terry Crews out. Crews replied:
"I understand, Tyler. I was not saying Black supremacy exists, because it doesn't. I am saying if both Black and Whites don't continue to work together-- bad attitudes and resentments can create a dangerous self-righteousness. That's all."
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Crews then issued two further tweets responding to the backlash he faced for his initial comments. The actor wrote"
"Please know that everything I've said comes from a spirit of love and reconciliation, for the Black community first, then the world as a whole, in hopes to see a better future for Black people.
"I believe it is important we not suffer from groupthink, and we keep minds of our own, and be allowed to ask difficult questions to each other. I believe this dialogue is important as we get through this trauma together. I love you."
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Following George Floyd's death, Crews posted an emotional video to Instagram.
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"First of all my heart is broken," the actor said per USA Today. "George Floyd looks like me. George Floyd could be me. I could easily, easily be that man on the ground with that police officer's knee on my neck. That could easily be me."
