Yahoo Lifestyle Sexyy Red's MLK Day Post Became A Teachable Moment After Bernice King Responded
Bernice King called out Sexyy Red for her "disrespectful" post about Martin Luther King Jr.
Paras Griffin / Getty Images for TIME
On Monday, Sexyy took to X, formerly Twitter, to share a post in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was AI-generated and showed Dr. King posing with the "Pound Town" rapper in what appeared to be a nightclub.
In a tweet, Bernice asked Sexyy to "please delete" the post, as it was "intentionally distasteful, dishonoring, deplorable, and disrespectful of my family and my father, who is not here to respond himself because he was assassinated for working for your civil and human rights and to end war and poverty."
This is intentionally distasteful, dishonoring, deplorable, and disrespectful to my family and my father, who is not here to respond himself because he was assassinated for working for your civil and human rights and to end war and poverty. Please delete. https://t.co/g1S726qSMf
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 21, 2025
Sexyy immediately understood where Bernice was coming from, replying, "You ain’t wrong." She added, "[I] never meant to disrespect your family my apologies. Just resposted something I saw that I thought was innocent."
You ain’t wrong, never meant to disrespect your family my apologies. Just resposted something I saw that I thought was innocent 🙏🏾 https://t.co/3rGQreJNOT
— Sexyy Red (@SexyyRed314_) January 22, 2025
Bernice thanked Sexyy for the apology while making it clear there were no hard feelings. "I value you as a human being," she wrote, adding she just had "concerns about the image" as Dr. King "has become a bit of a caricature to the world" and "his image is often used with no regard to his family, his sacrificial work, or to the tragic, unjust way in which he died (a state-sanctioned assassination)."
"I earnestly wish that people would imagine what it would feel like to see their deceased, murdered father repurposed for party fliers, unjust legislation, etc," she said.
And although she didn't agree with Sexyy's post, she defended the rapper from people calling her "trash" and "ghetto" and comparing her to her parents. She said it was "not [her] intention that [Sexyy] be denigrated" and wished her well.
People thought it was a wonderful exchange.
Love this interaction pic.twitter.com/mPf7vRjrpN
— based goddess 𓂀 (@harmoniavibes) January 22, 2025
The White House / Twitter: @harmoniavibes
From Sexyy's "respectful" response.
Sexyy Red handled this very respectfully! Many people could learn from how she responds to a direct challenge after a misstep. This won’t get the same visibility as the offense but it should. https://t.co/fMKBVP4WhI
— Old Atlanna (@ATLboneNbred) January 22, 2025
And Sexxy Redd gained some respect from me with how she handled it as well. She was gracious and respectful to Bernice in her response and she immediately took it down. So why are ppl tryna “defend” Sexxy? She ain’t even defending it. What is there to defend if she apologized?
— Adrienne | Creative Consultant and Soap Queen 🫧 (@brownandbella) January 22, 2025
To the learning lesson that Bernice provided.
I love this https://t.co/H32fMkG0bz
— Mel 🤭 (@TheBaddestMitch) January 22, 2025
Some called it a lesson in "grace and humility."
This public apology and public acceptance can teach us all a lesson about grace and humility.
— Melissa Nold, Esq. (@savage_esquire) January 22, 2025
"It's so refreshing to see people on this app resolving an issue like adults," one person said.
It's so refreshing to see people on this app resolving an issue like adults. Respect.
— Torraine Walker (@TorraineWalker) January 22, 2025
"I hate that this happened," another wrote, "but I love seeing this respectful interaction. Blessings to you both."
I hate that this happened but I love seeing this respectful interaction. Blessings to you both.
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) January 22, 2025
You can read more reactions below:
I glad Bernice made sexy red delete that shit. Everything is not a joke!
— BAP (@mama_mia_09) January 22, 2025
Bernice King vs Sexyy Red was not on my 2025 bingo card lol
— Darian Holt 🍎🍟🍎❄️ ➏ (@D_1andOnly_) January 22, 2025
Dr. Bernice A. King was not disrespectful. She assertively voiced her concern with the post and set a boundary. She also defended wayward attempts to insult Sexyy Red. Sexyy Red respected her boundary and took it down. That’s quite literally how things should go.
— Nique (@PolosNKicks) January 22, 2025
I saw the AI generated photo of Sexyy Red and it was just weird which is on brand for her. I can appreciate Dr. Bernice King’s response as well as her reaction. I can appreciate Sexyy’sapology too. That’s the best and only way to react and respond to someone and she received her…
— laurentii 🪴 (@kilobyyte) January 22, 2025
Huge respect for sexxy red for owning her mistake and apologizing. Something most ppl would rather die than admit wrong doing. Huge respect to Bernice King too for not only calling out the disrespect, but also doing it in a thoughtful manner that fosters open dialogue.
— bobby (@bobbytheanswer) January 22, 2025
How do you feel about their interaction? Share your thoughts in the comments.
