“Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams’ delivered a powerful acceptance speech at the 2016 BET Awards Sunday night after he received the Humanitarian Award.
“We know that police somehow manage to deescalate, disarm and not kill white people every day,” Williams said. “So what’s going to happen is we’re going to have equal rights and justice in our country, or we will restructure their function, and ours.”
Justin Timberlake was so #Inspired by Williams’ speech that he tweeted the following:
@iJesseWilliams tho…#Inspired #BET2016
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
This person voiced his exception to JT’s flimsy sentiment, calling the 35-year-old Grammy-winner a cultural appropriator:
So does this mean you're going to stop appropriating our music and culture? And apologize to Janet too. #BETAwards https://t.co/0FwBOQR24D
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) June 27, 2016
To which JT said:
Then backtracked:
I feel misunderstood. I responded to a specific tweet that wasn't meant to be a general response. I shouldn't have responded anyway…
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
I forget this forum sometimes… I was truly inspired by @iJesseWilliams speech because I really do feel that we are all one… A human race
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
Then apologized:
I apologize to anyone that felt I was out of turn. I have nothing but LOVE FOR YOU AND ALL OF US.
–JT
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 27, 2016
Watch Williams’ full speech here.