There was a time not too long ago when Terry Crews said he was sexually assaulted and received plenty of support from Black Twitter. But all of a sudden things have changed for him.
The shift occurred after Crews stopped by “The 3rd Hour of Today” on Thursday and was asked about the environment of “America’s Got Talent,” which he hosts and Gabrielle Union was a judge on. That was until she was fired after the show’s 14th season.
Plus, in November, Variety published a report that said Union and others had to work in a “toxic culture” where racism and sexism were often tolerated.
Allegedly, the “Bring It On” actress spoke up when the former late night host Jay Leno made a racist joke about Asian people.
She also brought up the fact that it was wrong for a white male contestant on the show to color his hand black to impersonate Beyoncé.
The report said Union was told that frequently changing her hairstyle on the show was too black for the TV audience as well, and NBC launched an investigation.
After the story was published, Union received massive support online, but Crews said he didn’t have the same experience as she did.
“First of all, I can’t speak for sexism because I’m not a woman, but I can speak on behalf of any racism comments,” he explained. “That was never my experience … In fact, it was the most diverse place I have ever been in my 20 years of entertainment.”
Crews then said he never made an official statement about Union’s termination because she never made one, which was advice he received from his wife Rebecca King-Crews.
The “Everybody Hates Chris” actor was slammed on social media after that, and some asked why he didn’t either stick up for Union or just remain silent.
Union also responded to Crews’ interview and suggested that he threw her “under the bus.”
“Why anyone would gleefully get up on TV and tell lies that NO ONE disputed,” she wrote in part.
Crews seemingly responded to the backlash on Monday, Jan. 27, on Twitter and shrugged it off.
“There is only one woman one earth I have to please,” he tweeted. “Her name is Rebecca. Not my mother, my sister, my daughters or co-workers. I will let their husbands/ boyfriends/ partners take care of them. Rebecca gives me WINGS.”
Crews’ tweet seemed to rile up his detractors even more, and people didn’t only continue to blast him, they brought up his claim about being groped by former Hollywood talent agent Adam Venit.
“Wait… not after all those Black women, Gabby included, stuck their necks out for you?” wrote someone on Twitter. “This is beyond foul, not to mention nonsensical – is it only women w/ partners deserving of protection? Really should have just sat there and ate your tootsie rolls.”
“He’s once again speaking when he should just keep quiet,” another person commented. “He’s a huge disappointment.”
“I wanted to let him be because we are dealing with a major loss,” wrote a third person, most likely bringing up the death of Kobe Bryant. “But nah he know what he doing he wants the smoke.”
