America’s Got Talent host Terry Crews is receiving online blowback for a wayward need to assert that he only needs to protect his wife after throwing Gabrielle Union under the bus.
While many were still mourning the late Kobe Bryant, the former Everybody Hates Chris actor sent a tweet described by him as an “Ancient Flint Michigan proverb.”
“I’m a hog.
You’re a chicken.
Just ‘cuz you gave me eggs—
Don’t mean I owe you bacon.”
– Ancient Flint Michigan proverb
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 27, 2020
“I’m a hog. You’re a chicken. Just ‘cuz you gave me eggs— Don’t mean I owe you bacon” the so-called proverb read. Infer as you may. It's worth noting that Union backed Crews in December 2017 when he alleged he was sexually assaulted by a Hollywood agent.
The post highlights a recurring conversation about the lack of willingness among some Black men to be allies for Black women. As the tweet went over poorly with so many, Crews decided to fan the flames to astronomic levels with his ode to his longtime wife, Rebecca King-Crews.
“There is only one woman on earth I have to please. Her name is Rebecca,” the tweet states.
In the same tweet, Crews also said “not my mother, my sister, my daughters. I will let their husbands/ boyfriends/ partners take care of them.”
There is only one woman one earth I have to please. Her name is Rebecca.
Not my mother, my sister, my daughters or co-workers. I will let their husbands/ boyfriends/ partners take care of them.
Rebecca gives me WINGS
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 27, 2020
Last Friday, Union, who is married to NBA star Dwayne Wade, thanked people in her corner and said their support "gives [her] wings." The last line of Crew's tweet paralleled this message from the former AGT host.
Thank you. I'm gonna keep fighting for us all. And the support gives me wings! https://t.co/0SZ8FclWJb
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 24, 2020
Crews said his wife Rebecca gives him “wings” in an obvious slight to Union's Friday tweet. One would think this was a different Crews than the one that said Black women were the only ones who had his back after he spoke out about being sexually assaulted.
Twitter users rushed to the mic. Among the more notable was from a user who replaced the name of Crews' wife with none other than that of Beyoncé.
There is only one woman one earth I have to please. Her name is Beyoncé.
Not my mother, my sister, my daughters or co-workers. I will let their husbands/ boyfriends/ partners take care of them.
Beyoncé gives me WINGS
— aggi (@agerenesh) January 27, 2020
“But what about your daught—“
Terry Crews: pic.twitter.com/uLnCtSOGYk
— Octavia Butler knew… (@NotNikyatu) January 28, 2020
so terry crews can stand up for gina rodriguez facing much deserved backlash but can't stand up for gabrielle union having faced a hostile work environment? after all that support she vocally gave him?? i'd say do better but i'm tired of begging pic.twitter.com/yd39ctbmMU
— goodgalgawnwild (@finding_kiona) January 24, 2020
Black women: Terry, we need you to support us the way we supported you.
Terry: pic.twitter.com/9dEMmp2lcy
— Beverly Leslie ???? (@no_dahling) January 28, 2020
Yo man, you don't honor your wife by using her as a shield to avoid responsibility for throwing other Black women under a bus.
Corny AF.
— Ijeoma Oluo (@IjeomaOluo) January 27, 2020
Ssssssooooo I guess your 16 year old daughter is just a non motherfucking factor huh??? That's because she's black? Gotcha https://t.co/6iGiUEoon2
pic.twitter.com/8VEP90cPsY— Five G's please : Good God Get A Grip Girl (@Maya_NoAngelou) January 28, 2020
I can’t get over how musty this is. ???? https://t.co/vTVDcSZP7V
— ash (@woahashchill) January 28, 2020
Union decided to take the high road and didn't directly engage.
This. Whew. https://t.co/MyopFMLDyQ
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 28, 2020
As an investigation is still underway into Union's allegations, the actress has been quiet about her reported firing from the NBC talent show. Among her allegations were those of racial discrimination, misgendering of contestants and indoor smoking on set from the show's executive producer Simon Cowell, as Blavity previously reported. Last week, however, Crews, while on 3rd Hour Today, responded to questions about the "toxic atmosphere" behind the scenes.
.@TerryCrews speaks out about Gabrielle Union leaving "America's Got Talent," after her claims of a toxic work environment.
"I can't speak for sexism…but I can speak on any racism comments. That was never my experience," he says. pic.twitter.com/XEoxn7gvWP
— 3rd Hour of TODAY (@3rdHourTODAY) January 23, 2020
"I can't speak for sexism because I’m not a woman but I can speak on behalf of any racism comments," Crews responded. "That was never my experience, in fact, it was the most diverse place I have ever been in my years of entertainment."
He also goes on to say that the allegations were given from an “unnamed source” and that Union still hasn’t spoken out. Crews, known for his role in White Chicks, said he asked his wife what he should do and was told that if “she hasn’t made a statement then why should you?”
Whew, chile. Let’s be clear that you do not have to be a woman to speak out about sexism any more than you have to be black to speak out against racism.
Crews’ comments show a tone-deaf understanding of being an ally and using your voice unless it’s to assist the establishment.
The Being Mary Jane actress addressed the incident in a series of tweets without mentioning Crews directly.
Thank u! Cuz girlllllll ???? Truth telling, wanting change & having MULTIPLE witnesses who bravely came forward to let EVERYONE know I didn't lie or exaggerate, really exposes those who enthusiastically will throw you under the bus, forgetting quickly who stepped up 4 THEIR truth. https://t.co/X1uooWTpmK
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 24, 2020
Why anyone would gleefully get up on TV and tell lies that NO ONE disputed… But we already know. https://t.co/8MAfmzSgmI
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) January 24, 2020
Charlamagne Tha God honored Crews with the infamous "Donkey of the Day" award on the Wednesday episode of The Breakfast Club, usually given to people who have made an ass of themselves. Catch a few cackles from his take below.
At this point, we can surmise that Crews doesn’t understand what it means to support loved ones without feeling like it’s bacon from his hog-esque back, and we're gonna drag that hog 'til we can't no more.