“T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle” star Tameka ‘Tiny’ Harris wants fans to know that the storm that will forever be known as #Hymengate has since subsided within her household.
During a recent interview, the singer and reality TV star explained that her husband T.I. and his 18-year-old daughter Deyjah Harris have taken steps to mend their relationship, which took a huge hit after he claimed during a November interview on the “Ladies Like Us” podcast that he’d attend his daughter’s gynecologist checkups with her in order to confirm her hymen was still “intact,” something that he felt signaled her continued virginal status.
The comments went viral, T.I. was picked apart by colleagues and fans, Deyjah received significantly more attention than she wanted, but in a recent chat with ET, Tiny claimed that Tip and her stepdaughter have since gotten back on the right track, which fans will see play out in the new season of their VH1 series. “As far as the show, you’re going to see Tip going through some things with Deyjah,” she said. “That is one of the biggest things our family had to deal with this season, because it was about one of our kids. It was a big deal.”
Tiny was comfortable letting the cameras into her family’s life during such a tough time because she viewed it as an opportunity for them to take control of their story. “If it’s a story that’s going around the world, I feel like it’s better for us to show it and let you hear it, see it from us, than someone else give it to you. … I would prefer you to get it from us,” the songwriter stated resolutely. “This is something that’s our issue, about us, and they should know it from us.”
Fans of the show can expect to see a play-by-play of the family’s reactions to Tip’s comments, as well as how he and Deyjah work toward reconciliation. “There’s a lot of conversation,” Tiny said during the interview. “A lot of talking, a lot of back-and-forth trying to figure out where the biggest problem was. And, understanding how she feels, where he was coming from and what he actually meant by whatever he said. There was no malicious ill intent in his reason for speaking on it. So, understanding that and her knowing that [helped] bridge the gap.”
With a little communication, love, and patience, the Atlanta-based rapper and his oldest daughter have made strides forward. “Their relationship is definitely much better now because Deyjah is … a very bright girl. Her dad just wants to love on her, so anytime he’s around her, he just can’t stop loving on her, so it’s like ‘What am I fighting here.’ They’ve been doing really good.”
T.I. undoubtedly walked away learning a lesson from the ordeal, taking responsibility for his comments and apologizing to Deyjah publicly on Jada Pinkett Smith‘s Facebook show “Red Table Talk“. “[Deyjah] did have a problem with me talking about it and I understand that and I am incredibly apologetic to her for that,” he told the actress and co-host during the sit-down.
Taking it a step further, Tip also posted a heartfelt note to his daughters on Instagram in January, writing, “Please forgive me for any and all imperfections that cause misunderstandings between us…. Charge my mind, not my heart.”
