Terry Crews, of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and pec dancing fame, recently took a moment to share his views on the ongoing nationwide anti-racism protests, which have roiled the U.S. since the police killing of George Floyd on May 25.
Regarding the movement, which has called for an end to systemic racism across the country, particularly in regards to police department policies, Crews posted the following to his Twitter page.
"Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth."
"Like it or not, we are all in this together."
Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth.
Like it or not, we are all in this together.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 7, 2020
After Crews published that post, many people on Twitter came out to express their stern disagreement.
One was none other than Tyler James Williams, a former co-star of Crews' on Everybody Hates Chris. Williams took a moment to send a series of tweets, all meant to explain what he felt Crews was missing.
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 https://t.co/d5BDTTATd9
— Tyler James Williams (@TylerJamesWill) June 8, 2020
Our people are tired of white people who put on a good face a claim they “arnt racist" while operating and benefiting from the privilege of a clearly racist system.
We're not trying to do this alone. We KNOW we can't. But we refuse to have allies who won't go the distance.
— Tyler James Williams (@TylerJamesWill) June 8, 2020
I'm not trying to call you out @terrycrews. You know it's all love always ❤️. But we're rightfully angry right now and fed up with anyone not with our cause wholeheartedly.
I don't want to see that energy pointed your way or diverted from the cause.
— Tyler James Williams (@TylerJamesWill) June 8, 2020
Crews responded to Williams' criticism on the defense, and the back and forth began.
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. https://t.co/YLWGnpj8fl
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
I get that but look at how quickly he took what you said and used it to support a counter narrative. My concern isn't your message to black people but to everyone else.
We know how hard this is going to be. We can't NOT. But this only makes it harder. @terrycrews https://t.co/cXtTHvchRk pic.twitter.com/RhOSXEAqXW
— Tyler James Williams (@TylerJamesWill) June 8, 2020
Plenty of other Twitter users, less well-acquainted with Crews, of course, didn't hesitate to call Crews out either.
Many took the same tact as Williams, citing concerns that his tweet risks backfiring, and encouraging white supremacy, the very thing the protests have aimed to abolish.
So, brother: here's why your tweet is a problem:
1. Black supremacy isnt possible unless we rewrite the last millennium.
2. Who's doing this without whites? Plenty of allies
3. Your voice is too big to tweet so inaccurately,
unproductively & provide cover for white supremacy
— Benjamin Dixon (@BenjaminPDixon) June 8, 2020
I love you as a friend Brother Terry. But I disagree with you 100 %. No such thing as Black Supremacy. That is a tactic that Racist whites use to counteract our rebellion to their horrific treatment of us. It's called Gas lighting. Black pride isn't anti white.
— godfrey (@GodfreyComedian) June 8, 2020
Bro ima need you to educate your self on what “WHITE SUPREMACY" is & what “RACIAL EQUALITY" (which is the actual fight we are fighting, protesting & marching for, means...oh you don't have the time? Well let me tell you...
smh I mean you can always choose to shut up sometimes🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/FIq22gdNKh
— Young Deuces of SNYD (@Young_Deuces) June 8, 2020
Other responses simply shared why they felt his concept of "Black Supremacy" was an impossibiity. They cited the long history of black people lacking power in U.S. history.
Black supremacy dont exist. There is no history of our people killing, enslaving, and making laws to instill power for 400 years for generations
— izzy. (@TheBronzeStatue) June 7, 2020
This makes absolutely no sense, makes very Black self-hating assumption that Black folks would actually try to do harm to White people in major ways, when there is no proof in history of any such behavior even remotely close to White supremacist behavior. Please read books, sir.
— Kevin Powell (@kevin_powell) June 8, 2020
Ok, since we OBVIOUSLY are unaware that words actually mean things.
Black folks do not have a history of prolonged, cruel and unjust control over ANYTHING.
As I said before we dont need to oppress to be great. We dont WANT to be a supreme ruler, we just wanna be able to BE. pic.twitter.com/Wlzbs0laM2
— Yori // Alicia (@AnAmazingFeat) June 8, 2020
Either A: you're on a mission to pacify white people
Or B: you were that one kid in class that the rest of the class had to wait to catch up. pic.twitter.com/zq7KnXiAIj
— Jennifer on Wheels (@Kierryk345) June 8, 2020
And finally, some tweets didn't respond directly to the specifics of his argument. They opted to launch some general criticism of Crews' decision to post it.
Dear Terry Crews,
You showed us time & time again that you weren't sh*t, most recently with not standing by Gabrielle Union so you could keep your job. This seals the deal. pic.twitter.com/Xfl9Xxdlpt
— Ronald Isley (@yoyotrav) June 8, 2020
There are really some ignorant Black people with platforms that depend on keeping White people comfortable & it shows.
— KD (@Fly_Sistah) June 8, 2020
pls. pic.twitter.com/fkMWZY1Qej
— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) June 8, 2020
pic.twitter.com/u4GZZl2oNw
— Shantira Jackson (@tira_tira_tira) June 8, 2020
Crews clearly did not heed the advice to remove the tweet, as it still remains on his feed.
It has over 140 thousand likes—the large platform that the responses were worried about.
One tweet summarized it all quite well.
hey great job dude, way to go pic.twitter.com/EsRUpnUAeu
— Eliot (@EliotETC) June 8, 2020
[
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@jaimewystub/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@annamoylanchi/TikTok
@russellbrand/Instagram; nicolescherzinger/Instagram
@nicolescherzinger/Instagram