Terry Crews was the target of controversy this week after supporting America’s Got Talent when asked about Gabrielle Union’s exit.
Union was dropped from the show late last year after reportedly raising concerns over a sexist and racist atmosphere at the competition series. Crews, who appeared on Today earlier this week, explained that he “can’t speak for sexism, because I’m not a woman. But I can speak on behalf of any racism comments. That was never my experience on America’s Got Talent.”
He followed up the backlash he received with a string of since-deleted tweets that were widely believed to be aimed at Union. “I’m a hog. You’re a chicken,” he wrote. “Just ‘cuz you gave me eggs — don’t mean I owe you bacon.”
“There is only one woman one [sic] earth I have to please,” he continued in a second tweet. “Her name is Rebecca. Not my mother, my sister, my daughters or co-workers. I will let their husbands/ boyfriends/ partners take care of them. Rebecca gives me WINGS.”
However, on Friday (Jan. 31), Crews re-evaluated his statements and issued a lengthy apology on Twitter. “I told @KevinHart4real a while ago, he needed 2 ‘acknowledge the pain of other people.’ Right now I have to do the same thing. I want to apologize for the comments I made. I realize there are a lot of Black women hurt and let down by what I said and also by what I didn’t say,” he tweeted.
“I hear you, I respect you and understand you,” he continued. “I am sorry and I am here to support you. I spoke from my own personal point of view without first taking into consideration someone else’s experience.”
I hear you, I respect you and understand you. I am sorry and I am here to support you. I spoke from my own personal point of view without first taking into consideration someone else’s experience.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 31, 2020
I allowed disrespectful comments directed at me and my family to cause me to react angrily instead of responding thoughtfully. This certainly caused more harm, and it is my hope that I can amend any pain I have caused to those who were hurt by my words.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 31, 2020
He followed up with a few tweets tagging Union directly. “I want you to know it was never my intention to invalidate your experience— but that is what I did. I apologize,” he wrote. “You have been through a lot in this business, and with that I empathize with the struggle toward fairness and equality in the workplace.”
“You are a role model to the entire black community and In my desire to be professionally neutral as your co-worker, I should have at the very least understood you just needed my support,” he concluded.
Union has yet to respond to the apology.
@itsgabrielleu You are a role model to the entire black community and In my desire to be professionally neutral as your co-worker, I should have at the very least understood you just needed my support.
Sincerely, Terry Crews
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 31, 2020