Justin Timberlake apologizes after tweet about BET Awards

Justin Timberlake learned today that the internet doesn’t forget anything.

The pop singer found himself in a flurry of controversy after what started as a simple declaration of praise for Jesse Williams’ Humanitarian Award acceptance speech at last night’s BET Awards.  Timberlake has long been accused by critics of appropriating black culture for commercial gain and was dragged for his role in the 2004 Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction” controversy.

So when he initially tweeted he was “#Inspired” by Jesse Williams speech, Twitter users decided to call him out for the ‘gentrifying’ of black ‘genius’ Williams spoke about.

Twitter user Ernest Owens responded writing, “So does this mean you’re going to stop appropriating our music and culture? And apologize to Janet too.”

Timberlake wasn’t amused and clapped back writing, “Oh, you sweet soul. The more you realize that we are the same, the more we can have a conversation. Bye.”

https://twitter.com/jtimberlake/status/747276674073395200

But a lot of the Twitterverse wasn’t feeling Timberlake’s dismissal.

https://twitter.com/rgay/status/747279658853376000

https://twitter.com/OhItsShell_/status/747279976978755592

Timberlake came back with a clarification and then an apology.  “I feel misunderstood. I responded to a specific tweet that wasn’t meant to be a general response. I shouldn’t have responded anyway…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.”

He closed off by saying he had “nothing but LOVE” for everyone.