Terry Crews Backlash: Star apologizes after saying children in same-sex households are “severely malnourished”
Actor Terry Crews faced strong backlash after he made what many considered to be insensitive comments about children being raised in same-sex households, saying that they would be “severely malnourished” without the love of being raised by parents of the opposite sex.
—Obama to teen boys, “You don’t need eight women around you twerking”—
The fallout from his remarks began after the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star took to Twitter to criticize a New York Times Op/Ed piece that condemned President Barack Obama entitled, “Why Does Obama Scold Black Boys?”
The writer complained that Obama’s remarks he made last month to a group of Black boys during his My Brother’s Keeper event did more harm than good, reports The NY Daily News.
“Mr. Obama’s comments reinforced toxic masculinity,” wrote human rights lawyer Derecka Purnell.
Crews didn’t agree with Purnell’s assessment and lashed out saying: “Women can speak with us. Just not FOR US. There’s a big difference,” he wrote.
“Another thing that bothers me is that this OP-ED was written by a WOMAN about how boys should be taught to grow into successful young men. How should she know?” he wrote.
However, minimizes a woman’s role in raising boys didn’t sit well with the audience at large. Crews was hit with a wave of criticism, comments and retweets that developed into a conversation about stereotypical gender roles and parenting styles.
—Judge and attorneys apologize for confederate flag fraternity photos in college yearbook—
Crews then said that while same-sex couples and single parents can raise a child successfully: “I believe paternal AND maternal love are like vitamins and minerals to humanity.”
Twitter user @jakesherondale hit back saying “love isn’t gendered. a child will not starve with only one gender loving them,” to which Crews quipped: “But they will be severely malnourished.”
Crews’ comment quickly sparked outrage online and prompted the former NFL player to apologize.
“I apologize to anyone who was hurt by my ‘severely malnourished’ tweet. It was in response to someone who said kids wouldn’t “starve.” It was poorly worded so I deleted it,” he posted.
I apologize to anyone who was hurt by my “severely malnourished” tweet. It was in response to someone who said kids wouldn’t “starve”.
It was poorly worded so I deleted it.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) March 1, 2019
