Actor Clifton Powell Sr. is no relationship connoisseur, but when it comes to passing along helpful dating advice to his son, Clifton Powell Jr., he has a few notes.
This past April the actor’s 25-year old son became the talk of social media when it was revealed he is dating Sasha Obama, 21. According to Powell Sr., the young couple have been together for about a year, it just took a while for the media to take notice.
Dating the younger daughter of former President Barack Obama isn’t the run of the mill dating experience most folks imagine as their reality. The veteran actor said that while he is certain he raised his son to possess all the best qualities imaginable, he still peppers his son with advice.
“I want him [Barack] to know and Michelle to know, if they ever hear this, I’m on my son, like, every day, man,” said the “Next Friday” actor while appearing on the “Dear Fathers Podcast.” He continued, “Not in a negative way but I might send him a meme, or I might send him a quote,” as a reminder to continue doting his i’s and crossing his t’s.
“We love the Obamas but Mr. Obama has a daughter that’s dating my son and I have an opportunity and a responsibility to make my son responsible, gentle, kind, loving, and supportive. The things that I did not get taught,” he said. He noted his own father failed to teach him those things, but having grown up with the guidance of women he quickly learned how to treat a lady with respect. “So I text him all the time and I say, ‘Treat Sasha like you would want somebody to treat your daughter.’”
Aside from shock, reactions to the news of the Powell Jr. and Sasha dating were mixed. Some people on social media were thrilled the University of Southern California student had a beau, while others were not so enthusiastic about her choice — many of which made pointed comments about there being a correlation in Powell Jr. and the sometimes menacing roles his father portrays on television and in the movies.
Those snide remarks are not lost on Powell Sr.
“I get a lot of negative comments. ‘Oh well, Sasha be careful, hope he not like his daddy,’” said the “Saint & Sinners” actor. “You know people gotta stop doing that, taking the characters that you play and make ’em like you really that way.”
