Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
ICYMI, Jesse Williams gave a moving speech at the BET Awards last night. However, people are not happy that Justin Timberlake says he felt “#inspired” by it…when it’s practically about people like him.
The speech,
So JT tweeted this…
@iJesseWilliams tho…#Inspired #BET2016
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
…and the internet collectively flipped out, calling out Justin for cultural appropriation.
Did you like the part when Jesse talked about white people stealing from us? That should resonate with you.
— sockruhtese (@sockruhtese) June 27, 2016
inspired to do what? Continue to emulate black culture through your music while ignoring issues affecting black people?
— Chrystal (@chrystallll) June 27, 2016
he was talking about ppl like u though. Not Protecting black women. Gentrification of our art.
— SCOTUS 2020 ⚖️ (@dcjanfan) June 27, 2016
In particular, people were pissed about a tweet where JT directly responded to a tweet telling him to apologize to Janet Jackson, referencing the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show where Justin “accidentally” exposed her breast.
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
Justin responded, “Oh, you sweet soul. The more you realize that we are the same, the more we can have a conversation. Bye.”
Long story short, people definitely don’t feel like they’re the same as a mega-millionaire pop star.
In a series of follow-up tweets, JT tried to make things right.
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
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
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
Maybe step away from the Twitterverse for a second, Justin. We’ll all forget about this soon enough.
