Good grief, what was in the water this past weekend?
First we got an absolutely awful take on sexual abuse from Sir Ian McKellen (which he later apologised for) and now we have Terry Crews dropping some dreadful comments about fatherhood, and single and same-sex parents.
The Brooklyn Nine Nine star has had a history of being quite outspoken on the topic, most notably going on a cringeworthy rant while on The View in 2014 about how a child can only get things from their father, all while speaking over the rest of the women on the panel when they disagreed with him.
Terry Crews On The Importance Of Fatherhood https://t.co/f42PZqH3rL via @YouTube
— terry crews (@terrycrews) March 1, 2019
This issue reared its ugly head again recently when Crews shared a New York Times article entitled “Why Does Obama Scold Black Boys” before criticising its author, Derecka Purnell, by basically pointing out how a woman could possibly know anything about raising boys into successful young men.
Yeah. That sound you heard was everyone smacking their forehead in the world’s biggest facepalm.
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
We all say some dumb things from time to time, even if we had only the best of intentions, but Crews proceeded to kick the hornet’s nest again. And again. And again.
After his NYT article tweet copped some accusations of misogyny on Twitter, which Crews denied by replying that “fathers are just as necessary as mothers”, he then dug himself into a deeper hole with this god-awful tweet:
Dig upwards, stupid.
Needless to say that fans were not happy with Crews, who later deleted his “poorly worded” tweet and apologised to everyone upset by it.
Normally that would be that but the Crackdown 3 actor continued to stand firm on his parenting stance and proceeded to do give his publicist a nightmare by hitting out on critics on Twitter while retweeting supportive messages.
You apparently thought I was your puppet. But I have a mind of my own, and can see and think very clearly.
The “phobic” tag is the most feared public tag next to racist.
I don’t fear it because I am neither.
Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. https://t.co/wuBRM2SdEo
— terry crews (@terrycrews) March 2, 2019
I explained it just like I meant to. You need both. https://t.co/2aXCUEiHDW
— terry crews (@terrycrews) March 2, 2019
I understand you trying to cancel the concept of a father but without one YOU WOULDN’T EXIST, SIR. https://t.co/mZfQIiSTiB
— terry crews (@terrycrews) March 2, 2019
It was a bold tactic, Cotton, but alas it didn’t pan out exactly as Crews probably hoped and he eventually declared himself “cancelled” for his comments on fatherhood and parenting.
I have another very controversial statement to make, and I will since I’m “canceled” anyway.
As a human being there are things you can only get from your mother.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) March 2, 2019
We’re not entirely sure what drove Terry to say this monumentally dumb stuff. It was probably a severe case of dehydration or something. However, don’t put the man in the “cancelled” bin just yet.
Yes he made a bit of a faux pas but we must not forget that he’s done a lot of good over the past few years, most notably his efforts in the #MeToo movement.
I’m far from the first person to think that as many fans were understanding of Crews’ situation, telling the actor that he’s not “cancelled” but he needs to listen to the other side and understand why children of single and same-sex parents are angry at his comments.
Terry, my dude, you’re not canceled, you’re just not listening to WHY people are upset. You’re stuck in your heteronormative view. Someone raised by all men can be just as wonderful as someone raised by all women can be just as wonderful as someone raised by both. It’s not hard.
— emily | pride!! (@jaimesknight) March 2, 2019
Hon, you’re not canceled, but this is heteronormative thinking and probably not accurate. That’s all.
— morgaine lefayle (@hktparty) March 2, 2019
Crews (and his publicist) has yet to issue a proper statement on this whole saga but I imagine one will be coming out in the next few days.
Terry, you ain’t cancelled but here’s hoping that you learned something from this and actually take it to heart. We want the Instagram-breaking Terry Crews around and not this bad take-dropping version that’s popped up this past week.