(Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
After he got blasted for praising Black women on Instagram earlier this week, Michael B. Jordan is going on the record and dismissing rumors that he’s not into Black ladies.
The “Fahrenheit 451″ actor was eviscerated when he shared the music video for Nick Grant’s song,”Black Woman.” The comments alleged he was simply pandering to the demographic and called out his past links to model Ashlyn Castro.
“It’s so funny to everybody because it couldn’t be further from the truth,” he told Essence Thursday, May 17 noting he and his family “laughed” at the rumor. “My dad and my mom both said, ‘If they only knew.’ If they only knew. And that’s the thing that keeps me not tripping about it.”
The star also pointed to his upbringing, which saw him grow up in Newark, N.J. soon after he was born in Orange County, Calif., has influenced his admiration for Black women.
“Look at what I’m about as a person. Look at my upbringing, my culture, where I come from,” he said. “How could I not love and appreciate my own race?”
Still, the rumor that the star doesn’t date Black women have abounded. He’s debunked it before, telling Vogue in a November 21 questions video that it’s the craziest misconception he’s heard.
But that doesn’t mean he’s not interested in women outside of his race. In February, he told “Ebro in the Morning” he loves “a lot of different people” but he also loves “my people. For anybody to question my love for Black women is preposterous.”
The rumors have affected the uber private star so much that he’s changed how he moves in the world with dates.
“It makes me hesitant about whoever I’m seen with. I’m finally starting to get to a place now where I don’t care, but it bothered me for a minute,” Jordan admitted. “It made me more conscious of things I say and how I move, and what could happen if I leave a club or a restaurant or the movies. If I leave anywhere, any known place with anybody, there’s going to be speculation.”
In reaction to his newest clarification, fans remained split.
“Still doesn’t mean you are attracted to or date Black women,” one said.
“He got love for his mother! But after that….” another wrote.
“Date who u want..forget the haters✌✌✌” someone else commented.
“People need to stop being so judgmental. -_-,” said another person.
