Justin Timberlake’s response to Jesse Williams’ speech was the topic of discussion during a roundtable segment on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. Rapper Vic Mensa was there for the talk and explained why he believed Timberlake’s response was so hollow.
Mensa began by pointing out that throughout his career Timberlake has benefited from black culture. “His sound, his dance moves, his dancers, and blowing up off of it.” Mensa said, “But if you roll down Justin Timberlake’s Twitter for the past two years, which I just did, you see nothing that supports black people when it’s more difficult, when there’s a struggle.”
Jesse Williams’ BET Awards Speech ‘Inspired’ Justin Timberlake, Backlash Ensues
He added that Timberlake did nothing to engage with the black community he leeched off of, specifically during major events like Flint and the Black Lives Matter movement. “We’re not feeling him being down when it’s beneficial to him, and turning a blind eye when it could be dangerous. Sit down until you show us you care. Don’t tell us shit unless you show us you care.”
Mensa later took to Twitter to clarify his statements, saying, “My statements on @TheNightlyShow were not to bash Justin timberlake. I was just shedding some light on the idea of cultural appropriation.”
My statements on @TheNightlyShow were not to bash Justin timberlake. I was just shedding some light on the idea of cultural appropriation
— still alive (@VicMensa) June 30, 2016
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