Justin Timberlake Is Really Sorry About That BET Awards Tweet
Actor Jesse Williams inspired a lot of people after his speech at the BET Awards 2016. Among those inspired was Justin Timberlake, who took to Twitter to express his support for Williams's emotional speech about race relations in this country. However, when one Twitter user accused Justin of racial appropriation, it led to a social media hot mess.
After the speech, Justin praised the speech on Twitter, and was instantly called out by one user for "appropriating our music and culture". The user would go on to state that Justin owes Janet Jackson an apology for the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show wardrobe malfunction.
@iJesseWilliams tho...#Inspired #BET2016
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
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
Oh, you sweet soul. The more you realize that we are the same, the more we can have a conversation.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
Bye. https://t.co/FeTmGLOKVc
Some Twitter users criticized Justin for missing the point of Williams's speech, which is that we really haven't come as far as we think we have, as far as race relations are concerned.
.@jtimberlake you realize the whole point of his speech you praised was that were NOT the same tho. right?
— Myles Brown (@mdotbrown) June 27, 2016
Justin got defensive and explained himself, while also sort of chastising himself for getting involved in the first place.
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
Finally, Justin simply apologized for any offense he might have caused.
I apologize to anyone that felt I was out of turn. I have nothing but LOVE FOR YOU AND ALL OF US.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
--JT
Ultimately, this is all likely to blow over in a matter of days, if not sooner. But it seems kind of crazy that this even became a controversy at all. At worst, Justin missed the point of Williams's speech. I certainly get why some people are upset about this, but it's not as if he tweeted with malicious intent. That said, this should be a teaching moment for other celebrities on social media. Everything you say will get scrutinized, so be smart about the platform, even if you're going to tweet out something you feel is supportive. Whether or not that's a sad state of affairs is up to the individual Twitter user, but it seems like Twitter is something you really have to be careful with, if you're in the public eye.
But what do you think of this situation? Sound off in the comments!
And for more on the BET Awards 2016, watch an all-star cast pay tribute to Prince in a moving performance, and watch Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar steal the show with their epic rendition of "Freedom"!