Tyrese has always been outspoken when it comes to his thoughts on everything from sex and love to the world of politics. And it’s been no surprise that he’s had a lot to say about the currently volatile racial climate in America. However, his penchant for speaking up seemed to get him in trouble with fans this week when many believed an Instagram post of his was offensive to Jay Z.
The drama began this week when Tyrese posted a photo still from the set of DJ Khaled’s famous “I Got The Keys” video, which featured Black celebs like Jay Z, Future and A$AP Ferg dressed in black suits in a powerful pose uniting men of color. However, it wasn’t the photo that caused the stir; it was Tyrese’s lengthy caption under the photo in which claimed that he hoped the Black men in the video were working toward changing racist policies and an unjust legal system.
“They scheduled a video….. I hope they’ve scheduled other meetings about the state of black men and WHAT we need to do to change the shit that’s going on……… I’m scared for our future I’m especially scared of the most powerful black men and influential black men of our generation NOT finding time to take what’s really going on more serious and align our minds and powers to directly affect change……. I pretty much know everyone IN this pic so this ain’t no sneak diss I don’t need the attention trust me I’m good……. We matter so we have to put our minds together and decide HOW we’re going to USE this God given stage of influence to directly affect change and create greater standards for our community…… We get killed faster, we go to jail longer, we are also killing each other – a tap on the hand for raw cocaine and 20 years for crack cocaine, they legalize marijuana then give you 6 years in jail when you’re caught with a certain amount…. Even if you’re licensed to carry – #carrying while #black will get you killed even when you’re asked to SHOW your license….. So yeah videos are nice and the first week of sales are nice… But it’s some real shit going on out here and it’s time to DO something…… If #ALLLIVESMATTER this shouldn’t just be about what what ‘we’ as black people are dealing with… Show up for me…. This is when I need YOU the most…. Don’t be my friend at your convenience…. Don’t call me ‘off the record’ to check up on me…… This is a human race issue right?? Show UP for me…… This is HOW you directly affect change… The power is in the presence and in the numbers ..,” Tyrese wrote.
Well, despite his claim that it wasn’t a “sneak diss,” many fans took the caption as disrespectful to Jay Z and the many other men in the photo. However, according to media reports, Tyrese recently spoke out about the accusations of shade and denied that he had anything negative to say about Jay Z.
Tyrese reportedly claims that his message wasn’t meant to be divisive. Instead, he claims that his message was meant to be a call to action for all influential Black celebrities to use their power to influence positive change, especially when it comes to going to “Congress to change gun and drug laws.”
Tyrese even claimed that he’s “going to reach out to Jay to come up with some kind of plan to help save Black men from killing each other and winding up in jail.”
