Terry Crews has apologized after saying children must have a traditional nuclear family to thrive.

The actor made the comments Sunday after criticizing a New York Times editorial titled “Why Does Obama Scold Black Boys?”

The article, written by attorney Derecka PurnelI, criticizes the former president for insisting "on making better versions of Trayvon Martin, the Black victim, instead of asking how to stop creating people like George Zimmerman, the racist vigilante."

Throughout her article, Purnell makes the case that Obama's language (like when he told the audience at a recent speech, "If you are really confident about your financial situation, you are probably not going to be wearing a eight-pound chain around your neck.”) and actions (promoting, as Purnell writes, "community mentorship" as the solution to "financial insecurity and the racist violence that led to Trayvon’s murder") are unhelpful and paint a limited picture of the Black American experience.

Crews wrote he had an issue with the piece, not because of the writer's criticisms, but because Purnell is a woman. The actor tweeted he believes her gender makes her opinions flawed.

If a successful black man can’t advise the black male youth of the next generation, who will?

THE STREET. That’s who.

Why Does Obama Scold Black Boys? https://t.co/p7RIFzS2sO

— terry crews (@terrycrews) February 24, 2019

You can speak with us— just not FOR US. There is a big difference.

— terry crews (@terrycrews) February 24, 2019

Another thing that bothers me is that this OP-ED was written by a WOMAN about how how boys should be taught to grow into successful young men.

How would she know?

MEN NEED TO HOLD OTHER MEN ACCOUNTABLE.

— terry crews (@terrycrews) February 24, 2019

"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,” the actor wrote. “How would she know? MEN NEED TO HOLD OTHER MEN ACCOUNTABLE.”

One of Crews' followers brought up same-sex parents to challenge his point, but the Expendables star doubled down.

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“Love is not gendered,” the user wrote. “A child will not starve with only one gender loving them.”

“But they will be severely malnourished,” he responded in a now-deleted tweet.

His comments drew harsh criticism and disappointment from fans who respect him for his work with the #MeToo movement.

Wonder if any of the #BrooklynNineNine cast are going to address the disgusting things terry crews is tweeting pic.twitter.com/8znPusepOQ

— auguste (@astdelagrange) March 2, 2019

no matter what ‘point’ terry crews is trying to make with that tweet, nobody can tell me that it isn’t incredibly homophobic to say that the children of same gender couples are “severely malnourished” of love

— ♡ (@galaxylesbian) March 1, 2019

I don’t imagine Terry Crews said what he said with malicious intent but it is a reminder that not everyone needs to chime in on every topic

— Ira (@ira) March 4, 2019

Did Terry Crews’ dad nourish him? Cuz last I heard he spoke about his father as rather poisonous.

We need to frame conversations about parenthood around safe, healthy, loved CHILDREN. DASSIT.

— LeslieMac ???? (@LeslieMac) March 3, 2019

Hi @terrycrews,

My wife & I have 4 kids. We love & support them in everything they do.

Our kids are not “malnourished” because they don’t have a dad. However, they certainly would be if they grew up in a home where authenticity & love were stifled.????️‍????

https://t.co/0fmcMo84ay

— Amanda Jette Knox (@MavenOfMayhem) March 3, 2019

Crews later apologized for and deleted the tweet.

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

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Terry Crews malnourished

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