Terry Crews, the actor and comedian known for his roles in White Chicks, Scary Movie 5, Norbit and others, stirred controversy on Tuesday after he indirectly criticized the Black Lives Matter movement.
In a Tweet that referenced his religion, Crews wrote that he had “family of every race, creed and ideology.” He also urged that #blacklivesmatter should not morph into #blacklivesbetter, or the idea that Black people were better than others.
If you are a child of God, you are my brother and sister. I have family of every race, creed and ideology.
We must ensure #blacklivesmatter doesn’t morph into #blacklivesbetter
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 30, 2020
Some pointed out that Crews’ Tweet was reminiscent of “All Lives Matter” advocates, who have sought to de-legitimize Black Lives Matter by falsely accusing the movement of seeking to put Black lives above all others. According to the official Black Lives Matter website, the organization aims to change the systemic violence against Black people in the United States, not take away from the lives of other groups.
“We’ve committed to struggling together and to [imagining] and creating a world free of anti-Blackness, where every Black person has the social, economic, and political power to thrive,” the website says.
On Twitter, many were quick to criticize Crews’ comment.
Terry. what in the actual hell? this is the very definition of a strawman argument. why would you suggest a movement created to advocate for the prosecution of cops/citizens responsible for racially motivated killings could some how morph into “we’re better” pic.twitter.com/VmPbHiryAe
— Franchesca Ramsey (@chescaleigh) June 30, 2020
“We must ensure #blacklivesmatter doesn’t morph into #blacklivesbetter”….if y’all don’t get Terry Crews’ ole goofy ass outta here. pic.twitter.com/9Rd7Mdiw5G
— Jon Rogers (@JonRog88) June 30, 2020
In 1883, the Supreme Court claimed that a Civil Rights Act would make Black people “the special favorite of the laws.”
In 2020, Terry Crews warned that #BlackLivesMatter will morph into #blacklivesbetter.
Demanding Black equality is not Black supremacy.https://t.co/Am7T2NzaEn pic.twitter.com/D2C3mrDmeW
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 30, 2020
Meanwhile, others jokingly referenced White Chicks, the 2004 comedy in which Crews played the love interest of Tiffany, a Black man that was pretending to be a white girl (you really have to watch it to understand).
The ultimate twist. Terry Crews was the Karen all along in White Chicks. #blacklivesbetter #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/QKTkLARtle
— Equally Divided (@DividedEqually) June 30, 2020
terry crews is his “white chicks” character in real life. that wasn’t acting. that coon chip been active ever since.
— bitchipedia (@such_A_frknlady) June 30, 2020
Earlier this year, Crews went under fire after he dismissed Gabrielle Union’s complaints about racism in America’s Got Talent. Although he later apologized, many felt that he defended the interests of NBC rather than of other Black people.
