Justin Timberlake Responds To BET Awards Twitter Backlash

BYDanny Schwartz33.1K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
JT clarifies his controversial comment after Jesse Williams' moving speech at the BET Awards.

Sunday night's BET Awards were a triumph. If one were to pick out a single highlight, it would likely be actor/activist Jesse Williams' speech on racism, police brutality, and black empowerment as he received the Humanitarian Award.

The speech received a standing ovation from the crowd and praise from those following the ceremony on Twitter. Among those who praised Williams was 8-time BET Award nominee Justin Timberlake.

Huffington Post writer Ernest Owens had a bone to pick with JT, and he used the opportunity to call him out for misappropriation of black culture.

“So does this mean you’re going to stop appropriating our music and culture? And apologize to Janet too,” he wrote.

Timberlake responded in a manner some deemed condescending/ignorant. “Oh, you sweet soul. The more you realize that we are the same, the more we can have a conversation. Bye.”

JT's comment set off a minor Twitter uproar and Timberlake elaborated on his controversial comment, asserting that he felt "misunderstood" and apologizing to those he'd offended. Read his response below.

Justin Timberlake Responds To BET Awards Twitter Backlash
About The Author
<b>Staff Writer</b> <!--BR--> <strong>About:</strong> President of the Detlef Schrempf fan club. <strong>Favorite Hip Hop Artists:</strong> Outkast, Anderson .Paak, Young Thug, Danny Brown, J Dilla, Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs
...