Update (November 7, 2019): Planned Parenthood relayed a crucial anatomy lesson to rapper T.I. following his unabashed admission of his annual visits to one of his daughter's gynecologist to ensure her hymen is still intact.
During a recent episode of the Ladies Like Us podcast, the "About The Money" artist revealed the absurd lengths he goes to in order to confirm his daughter, Deyjah Harris, has not yet had sex.
Not long after a collective sentiment of disgust echoed throughout the internet on Wednesday, Planned Parenthood issued a thread of tweets hours after the Atlanta artist's troubling statement. The family planning organization addressed the falsities surrounding hymens and the concept of virginity.
Idk who needs to hear this but virginity is a made-up social construct, and it has absolutely nothing to do with your hymen.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) November 6, 2019
"Idk who needs to hear this but virginity is a made-up social construct, and it has absolutely nothing to do with your hymen," the first Wednesday evening tweet read.
A virgin is someone who’s never had sex. But “sex” means different things to different people, so “virginity” does too. Many don't care what it means or think it matters. Whatever you believe, the fact is you can’t tell if someone’s had sex by checking their hymen.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) November 6, 2019
"A virgin is someone who’s never had sex. But 'sex' means different things to different people, so 'virginity' does too. Many don't care what it means or think it matters," the thread continued. "Whatever you believe, the fact is you can’t tell if someone’s had sex by checking their hymen."
The hymen is a thin, fleshy tissue that’s located at the opening of your vagina. Like other parts of our bodies, hymens are a little different for everyone.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) November 6, 2019
Many people think the hymen totally covers the opening of your vagina until it’s stretched open, but that’s not usually the case. Most hymens naturally have a hole big enough for period blood to come out and for you to use tampons comfortably.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) November 6, 2019
"The hymen is a thin, fleshy tissue that’s located at the opening of your vagina. Like other parts of our bodies, hymens are a little different for everyone," Planned Parenthood added. "Many people think the hymen totally covers the opening of your vagina until it’s stretched open, but that’s not usually the case. Most hymens naturally have a hole big enough for period blood to come out and for you to use tampons comfortably."
Some people just naturally have hymens that are more open. And many other activities besides sex can stretch your hymen — like riding a bike, doing sports, or putting something in your vagina (like a tampon or finger). Once your hymen is stretched open, it can’t grow back.
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) November 6, 2019
As T.I. did seem to be partly aware of during the podcast conversation, the organization also iterated that a number of activities can cause the hymen to open:
"Some people just naturally have hymens that are more open. And many other activities besides sex can stretch your hymen — like riding a bike, doing sports, or putting something in your vagina (like a tampon or finger). Once your hymen is stretched open, it can’t grow back."
In a since-deleted tweet, and thus, the best of them all, the organization also wrote: “Some people think you can tell if someone’s had sex before if their hymen is stretched open. But that’s not the case. Say it with us: YOU CAN’T TELL IF SOMEONE’S HAD SEX BY THE WAY THEIR HYMEN LOOKS OR FEELS.”
Many on social media were not only appalled by T.I.’s comments, but for his overstepping of boundaries when it comes to his daughter’s medical information, which, now that she’s 18, requires a disclosure consent form.
While “virginity testing” is a custom across different cultures, CBS reports it was denounced in 2018 by the World Health Organization, U.N. Human Rights and U.N. Women. The WHO explained that the method of inspecting a female’s hymen has no clinical or scientific basis and is a disregard for women's or girls' well-being.
Original story (November 6, 2019) : T.I. revealed he's gone to greatly disturbing lengths to ensure his 18-year-old daughter has never had sex.
On an episode of the Ladies Like Us podcast, hosted by Nazanin Mandi, wife to singer Miguel, and makeup artist Nadia Moham, the musician shared that he goes with his daughter, Deyjah Harris, to her gynecologist appointments.
During the episode, the hosts questioned the “Whatever You Like” artist about his parenting style to which he answered that children often end up thanking their parents for being stricter and not letting them do certain things. The conversation led to the topic of having the sex talk with your kids. T.I. then admitted the rather appalling way he keeps tabs on his daughter.
“Have I? This is the thing. Deyjah’s 18, just graduated high school now and she’s attending her first year of college, figuring it out for herself,” he said. “And yes, not only have we had the conversation, we have yearly trips to the gynecologist to check her hymen.”
He also said he goes because he wants to hear the results of the pelvic exam for himself.
The hosts laughed at the revelation.
He explained the day after his daughter’s 16th birthday he left a note on the door that read “Gyno. Tomorrow. 9:30.” When the doctor came in, he asked Harris whether or not she would like to give permission for her father to have access to her medical records.
“He’s like, ‘You know sir, I have to, in order to share information’ — I’m like, ‘Deyjah they want you to sign this so we can share information. Is there anything you wouldn’t want me to know? See doc? No problem.’” T.I. said.
The doctor did inform him that there are other ways for a hymen to break.
“So I say, ‘Look doc, she don’t ride no horses, she don’t ride no bike, she don’t play no sports. Just check the hymen please and give me back my results expeditiously,'” he said he told the medical expert.
He has yet to be disappointed in the results of Harris’ exams.
“I will say as of her 18th birthday, her hymen is still intact.”
Despite the rapper’s beliefs, whether or not your hymen is broken has nothing to do with sexual activity, reports Teen Vogue. Gymnastics and using a tampon are just a couple of the other ways in which one’s hymen can break. Some are even born without one.
“Think of the hymen like tissue paper,” Alexandra Eisler, a health and sex educator from Healthy Teen Network, told the magazine. “It can stretch or tear or easily rub away.”
Psychology Today also reports that by adolescence, hymens are usually largely worn away, so there's no way virginity can be proven.
The Atlanta native also insisted virginity will make it harder for her daughter to attract men.
“They’re no fun. Who wants a virgin?” he asked. “Like really? All that work.”
When news broke of T.I's unconventional parenting style, the internet had a lot to say.
DISGUSTING: T.I. (@TIP) goes to his daughter Deyjah’s gynecologist yearly to make sure her hymen is still intact. He said the results are his. Gross!
1. It’s toxic, creepy & possessive.
2. His younger son admits he’s having sex & it wasn’t a problem.
3. She’s 18! Stop him now! pic.twitter.com/D6ILR6Bhiv
— Jerome Trammel (@MrJeromeTrammel) November 6, 2019
This is absolutely disgusting and perverted and vile and ignorant and just plain wrong. TI is a sick, controlling narcissist and there is absolutely NO way Deyjah, her mother or any woman in TI’s life should be okay with this. https://t.co/tDjVdAoSom
— Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) November 6, 2019
Some y’all must’ve experienced expert level deadbeats/fatherlessness.
“I wish I had a dad like TI that cared about my hymen.” pic.twitter.com/jsJbUj2txx
— Wholesome Faithful Black Queen ???????? (@A_Pretty_ChemE) November 6, 2019
“T.I. Goes Yearly To Gyno With Daughter Deyjah To Check Her Hymen”
Words can’t even begin to express how fucked up this is. Cishet men are not okay. They aren’t. pic.twitter.com/TXi4TtniV9
— professor x is a baldheaded scallywag (@Steph_I_Will) November 6, 2019
Imagine your dad going on a radio show to discuss how he monitors your hymen and telling everyone your virginal status as if your body is the public's business. There are so many layers to how fucking sick Ti is.
— ???????????? ???? (@missodessa) November 6, 2019
I’m so upset for Deyjah…
… to hear TI laughing while making his disregard for her sexual agency SO public…— ToraShae (@BlackMajiik) November 6, 2019
While he’s so worried about his daughter’s sex life, maybe he should have the same energy toward his son. On a recent episode of T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle, he learned that his son King, who is 14 years old, has, in fact, had sex.
The rapper was seen laughing after the admission although still appearing slightly upset. He then admitted he does have greater concern over the virginity of his daughters over that of his sons.
“I don’t want any of my children to have sex before it’s time for them, but who’s to say when it’s time?” he said. "I will definitely feel different about a boy than I will about a girl. And that’s just the God’s honest truth. I don’t think there’s any father out there who’ll tell you any different.”