Actor Terry Crews has said the Black Lives Matter movement shouldn’t turn into Black Lives Better as anti-racism protests continue to be held across the United States.
The America’s Got Talent host made reference to the BLM movement in a tweet on Tuesday when he said that anyone who was a child of God was his brother and sister.
‘If you are a child of God, you are my brother and sister. I have family of every race, creed and ideology,’ he said.
‘We must ensure #blacklivesmatter doesn’t morph into #blacklivesbetter.’
BLM protests calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality have flared across the US in recent weeks in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer last month.
Crews’ tweet prompted backlash online from some who accused him of detracting from the movement.
Actor Terry Crews has said the Black Lives Matter movement shouldn’t turn into Black Lives Better as anti-racism protests continue to be held across the United States
The America’s Got Talent host made reference to the BLM movement in a tweet on Tuesday when he said that anyone who was a child of God was his brother and sister
‘Gah. You could have left out that last sentence. No one wants to be better. We want to be treated fairly and equal,’ one person tweeted.
Writer Kellee Nicole Terrell tweeted: ‘You truly are worthless to us. White people can have you, especially since you love doing their work for them.’
Crews also faced retaliation earlier this month when he weighed in on the BLM movement and said it could result in ‘black supremacy’.
‘Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth. Like it or not, we are all in this together,’ Crews had tweeted.
After facing immediate backlash, Crews responded in a series of tweets saying it was important not to ‘suffer from groupthink’ and urged people to be ‘allowed to ask difficult questions to each other’.
‘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,’ he wrote.
‘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.’
BLM protests calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality have flared across the US in recent weeks in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer last month
It comes as Crews revealed last week that his Brooklyn Nine-Nine sitcom had to toss out scripts written for Season 8 as the series grappled with how to address protests and the BLM movement.
The comedy series mostly focuses on the lighthearted side of policing.
‘Our show-runner Dan Goor, they had four episodes all ready to go and they just threw them in the trash. We have to start over,’ Crews told Access Daily.
‘We’ve had a lot of somber talks about it and deep conversations and we hope through this we’re going to make something that will be truly groundbreaking this year.’
‘We have an opportunity and we plan to use it in the best way possible.’
Crews said he sees the Black Lives Matter movement as a chance for the world to come together for permanent change.
In a series of tweets this month addressing George Floyd’s death and the movement, Crews also publicly apologized to his fired America’s Got Talent host Gabrielle Union.
Crews also faced retaliation earlier this month when he weighed in on the BLM movement and said it could result in ‘black supremacy’
Earlier this month, the actor again apologized to his fired America’s Got Talent host Gabrielle Union after she filed a harassment complaint against NBC and claimed a network chairman tried to silence her reports of racism.
‘The murder of George Floyd has forced me to search my heart to find out what more I can do, as a human being, as a citizen, and more specifically as a Black man, to ensure our community can not only survive but thrive in this new world,’ Crews tweeted.
‘Whites have always had privilege in a society that has systemic racism built in, a fact that has been proven over and over again with the senseless deaths of unarmed Black men and women – with no one being held accountable.
‘But I also see that I am privileged as man, in a society that also has sexism built in. This privilege carries over into my community as a Black man in relationship with Black women.’
‘It is in this light I want to make further amends with Black women, and in particular @itsgabrielleu for not recognizing the privilege I have – especially in the workplace- and adding this fact to my earlier apology.’
‘If we are to move forward as a people we must do the work required to heal the relationships in our community first. To whom much is given, much is required. I have a huge responsibility – and I vow to honor it.’
Earlier this month, the actor again apologized to his fired America’s Got Talent host Gabrielle Union after she filed a harassment complaint against NBC and claimed a network chairman tried to silence her reports of racism