Jesse Williams’ speech at the BET Awards last night has been taking the Internet by storm, with people from all over coming forward to talk about how moved they were by his words on racism and the current state of equality in America. One person who was particularly moved, apparently, was Justin Timberlake:
@iJesseWilliams tho…#Inspired #BET2016
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
As you’ve probably already guessed, Twitter users flocked to his tweet to call him out for cultural appropriation…
Did you like the part when Jesse talked about white people stealing from us? That should resonate with you.
— sockruhtese (@sockruhtese) June 27, 2016
he was talking about ppl like u though. Not Protecting black women. Gentrification of our art.
— ULTRON WAS RIGHT (@dcjanfan) June 27, 2016
Yeah, like how you threw Janet under the bus.
Left her hanging, talking all the backlash from Nipple Gate.— Tv Geek (@FelNez63) June 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/chrystallll/status/747262891859021826
…but the REAL shitstorm hit when Timberlake responded to Ernest Owens’ tweet:
So does this mean you're going to stop appropriating our music and culture? And apologize to Janet too. #BETAwards https://t.co/0FwBOQR24D
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) June 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/jtimberlake/status/747276674073395200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Oh. Shit.
It’s aboutta go down.
https://twitter.com/OhItsShell_/status/747280141844287488
go ahead be inspired, but you have a platform to speak up on issues that affect the cultures you're appropriating.
— _Nopaliz (@_Nopaliz) June 27, 2016
we are the same. pic.twitter.com/mfLMJBeiCJ
— ULTRON WAS RIGHT (@dcjanfan) June 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/fentyxrih/status/747277904820604928
"We are the same"? Is you SUUUUUUUREEEE?????? @jtimberlake
— Towned Gentleman (@ajMadeMeDoIt) June 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/CaitlinWion/status/747278420019548160
you agree with Jesse, GREAT!!! What are you doing for the blacks lives matter movement.
— _Nopaliz (@_Nopaliz) June 27, 2016
RIP to your mentions.
— Ashley Jordan (@AshActually) June 27, 2016
.@jtimberlake @MrErnestOwens I don't know what sort of inspiration you got from Jesse, because I doubt you heard him.
— NAACP AWARD NOMINEE Camryn Garrett (@dancingofpens) June 27, 2016
.@jtimberlake @MrErnestOwens You have appropriated black culture, specifically black female culture.
— NAACP AWARD NOMINEE Camryn Garrett (@dancingofpens) June 27, 2016
.@jtimberlake you realize the whole point of his speech you praised was that were NOT the same tho. right?
— myles brown (@mdotbrown) June 27, 2016
.@jtimberlake @MrErnestOwens You completely dismissed them as if what they have to say about race, as a black person, was invalid
— NAACP AWARD NOMINEE Camryn Garrett (@dancingofpens) June 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/BeingBlkStacey/status/747278174963171328
https://twitter.com/missodessa/status/747282829386481667
Realizing this wasn’t going to end in his favor, Timberlake took the time to clarify what he meant, i.e. “I’m sorry, sorry sorry sorry, sorry sorry, stop tweeting at me and go back to sucking my dick via album sales, sorry again!”
I feel misunderstood. I responded to a specific tweet that wasn't meant to be a general response. I shouldn't have responded anyway…
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
I forget this forum sometimes… I was truly inspired by @iJesseWilliams speech because I really do feel that we are all one… A human race
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
I apologize to anyone that felt I was out of turn. I have nothing but LOVE FOR YOU AND ALL OF US.
–JT
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
Mouth, meet foot. Foot, meet mouth.
You two are going to be besttttt frandsssssss.
[H/T Uproxx]