Update (September 11, 2019): Actor Malik Yoba has been removed as a youth leader by his fraternity in wake of allegations that he paid a transgender teen for sex.
Last week, Yoba was praised after he announced on Instagram that he is attracted to trans women following the recent death of Maurice "Reese" Willoughby.
"I love ALL women AND count MYSELF among those that find themselves trans attracted and I too have felt the self imposed shame that comes with that truth but it’s time to speak up," Yoba wrote.
The 51-year-old has accused of paying multiple trans teens for sex, which began with a social media post from Mariah Lopez Ebony.
In a statement obtained by NewsOne, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. wrote that Yoba was removed from his position as spokesman for the Sigma Beta Club program. The organization, which was created in 1954, provides young men with an opportunity to develop leadership skills along with personal development.
“This is a serious issue and the allegation is inconsistent with, and a distraction to, the focus of the Sigma Beta Club. To safeguard the reputation of the program and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., the National Sigma Beta Club Foundation, in consultation with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s leadership, has determined it to be in the best interest of all concerned that Brother Malik Yoba no longer serve as the National Spokesperson for the Sigma Beta Club program,” the memo read in part.
On September 1, Ebony, who is transgender, wrote a message titled “Surviving Malik Yoba,” which alleges that he paid her for sex when she was a teen in New York City. Under her message, other alleged victims also came forward.
“His admission to being sexually attracted to Trans women, is bound to open a Pandora’s box for him; not because the women are Trans, But because many of the Trans women he engaged in sexual exploration and exploitation with on 14th Street, Times Square and elsewhere, were minors. Including myself,” she wrote of the actor in the post.
"I started seeing him personally, with my own two eyes, cruising around the meatpacking district and Village, large black Jeep, looking for Trans fem sex workers, he preferred black trans girls; pretty, slim girls, but would pick up a Latinx if she was put together and/or looked mixed," she continued.
"That was close to 20 years ago, and I can still remember it like yesterday. i also remember the day a friend of mine said, real cool, like she was known to do '…….walk down that block..Just go! He wants You…..'" the post continued. "You always remember celebrity clients. It’s like time slows down. You remember every detail, Blood pounding. He was cute, and polite, don’t get me wrong. But I’m sure he knew what he was doing, was Wrong."
While the New York Undercover star denies the soliciting accusations, Yoba seemingly responded to Ebony's Facebook post in a now-deleted video with a freestyle rap that has been posted on YouTube.
“How quickly people love to spread news/With no proof of child abuse/You confuse, I see you/You choose to try to make me lose/But I can’t/If you try to stand in my shoes/You would lose,” Yoba told his followers.
“You can’t win when you live in sin … At the beginning, I told you there was the word/And the word said we would love/And we would love each other/No matter what, you my sister, my brother/Whether you be a trans man or a trans woman,” he continued.
Yoba is still scheduled to attend the National Trans Visibility March in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 28. On Tuesday, he shared a post about supporting the event while writing about the importance of fighting for the “human and civil rights” issues that plague the transgender community, which he discussed on The Breakfast Club.
NYPD spokeswoman Sgt. Jessica McRorie spoke to The Washington Post about the allegations against Yoba and is calling on any other alleged victims to come forward.
“The NYPD takes child abuse, sexual assaults and rape cases extremely seriously, and urges anyone who has been a victim to file a report so we can perform a comprehensive investigation, and offer support and services to survivors,” McRorie said in a statement.
Ebony, who mentioned The Child Victims Act in her Facebook post, alluded that legal action could soon follow. The groundbreaking law went into effect in New York last month and allows a one-year window for filing old civil claims for child sex abuse.
Hundreds of New Yorkers who allege that they were molested as children have since filed suit against their abusers, according to NBC News.
Original: Actor Malik Yoba announced on Instagram that he is attracted to trans women after the recent death of Maurice "Reese" Willoughby.
The actor took to Instagram posting a video of Willoughby being harassed by a group of men because of his relationship with his transgender girlfriend, Faith.
Willoughby apparently committed suicide after continuous backlash centered around his relationship. It was later revealed the 20-year-old abused his girlfriend at the time and threatened to kill her.
The video was accompanied by a lengthy caption where Yoba confessed his love for all women, including trans women.
"I love ALL women AND count MYSELF among those that find themselves trans attracted and I too have felt the self imposed shame that comes with that truth but it’s time to speak up," Yoba stated.
"It is NOT about GENITALIA OR SEX but about attraction to the soul and humanity of an individual and often the beauty that is in the courage and conviction to live ones truth!" the caption continued.
In the post, the 51-year-old called out the misconception of masculinity.
"Clearly as evidenced in this video this young man was confident in his choice to love who he loved but the uninformed young men around him haven’t been taught BY US that love is love and acceptance of Trans love is ok and bullying has nothing to do with masculinity or HETEROSEXUAL behavior," the caption read.
The Why Did I Get Married actor said in his post he will be hosting a workshop titled, "Love + Trauma: The Trans Experience."
The event will be a part of the Trans March in D.C. on September 28. Community members will march in solidarity with the trans community and fight for equality.
The actor later posted a video on Monday thanking everyone for their support.
Yoba has joined a list of celebs speaking out in support of the trans community. Jidenna called for a deeper conversation around the case of Willoughby during an interview with Sway Universe.
The artist also opened up about homophobic myths within the African diaspora.
