BET
Justin Timberlake was on the wrong end of a conversation about Jesse Williams’ impassioned 2016 BET Awards speech Sunday night. The “Can’t Stop The Feeling” singer tweeted he felt “inspired” by the Grey’s Anatomy star’s acceptance speech for the Humanitarian Award. Williams – who is an activist and executive producer of BET’s “Stay Woke” documentary – focused on racial and social justice issues along with cultural appropriation.
“This is for the real organizers all over the country,” Williams said June 26 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “The activists, the civil rights attorneys, the struggling parents, the families, the teachers of students that are realizing that a system built to divide and impoverish and destroy us cannot stand if we do.”
He went on to call out the way Black lives are devalued in society yet Black culture is consumed effortlessly.
“We’ve been floating this country on credit for centuries, and we’re done watching and waiting while this invention called whiteness uses and abuses us. Burying Black people out of sight and out of mind while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment like oil. Black gold,” he said. “Ghettoizing and demeaning our creations, then stealing them, gentrifying our genius and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit. The thing is — just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we’re not real.”
Timberlake’s initial tweet was not what got him caught in a Twitter firestorm. It was his answer to a commenter’s question.
@iJesseWilliams tho…#Inspired #BET2016
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
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
Ernest Owens is referring to Timberlake’s R&B tunes that date back to his debut solo album, Justified. The singer has frequently collaborated with hip-hop producer Timbaland to drum up songs like “SexyBack” and “Suit & Tie.” Owens is also commenting on Timberlake’s 2004 Super Bowl performance with Janet Jackson in which he tore off her top, exposing her right breast.
Other users asked similar questions.
Did you like the part when Jesse talked about white people stealing from us? That should resonate with you.
— sockruhtese (@sockruhtese) June 27, 2016
https://twitter.com/chrystallll/status/747262891859021826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Timberlake only responded to Owens, though. He pushed the colorblind ideal, ignoring race entirely.
https://twitter.com/jtimberlake/status/747276674073395200
His response did not sit well with other users. Many condemned his views.
One user said Timberlake’s statement both dismissed and confirmed Williams’ speech at once.
#JustinTimberlake by saying we are all the same dismissed Jesse Williams speech entirely and proved his point at the same time well done 👏🏾
— Saucy Soucouyant 😛😛🇧🇧🇯🇲 (@skinglo_afro) June 27, 2016
Another mocked the ex-boy bander’s claim that “we are all the same.”
https://twitter.com/Felonious_munk/status/747283831753838592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
User @firefire100 said the singer’s response dismissed the fact that cultural appropriation is a real thing.
not only did justin timberlake ignore the question but he subliminally dismissed the notion that cultural appropriation does not happen
— pfire☔Baby I Could Never Steal You From Another (@firefire100) June 27, 2016
Two hours after his initial response, the crooner followed-up by saying he felt “misunderstood.”
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
The tweet did not gain any sympathy.
YOU feel misunderstood?!? Imagine how BLACK FOLKS feel EVERY day. Miss me w/that. #FOHWTBS #JustinTimberlake https://t.co/rtFCtc9LC2
— No Taxation Without Reparations (@lifeandmorelife) June 27, 2016
He continued, reiterating why he was “inspired” by William’s speech: because he believes “we are all one… a human race.”
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
Timberlake later apologized to those who felt he was out of line.
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
