[Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images; Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage]
St. Louis, Missouri rapper Sexyy Red posted on X (Twitter) an AI generated photo of her and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holding hands at a night club on MLK Day; there was no caption attached to the photo. AI generated photos have become popular with this new wave of technology, there are photos of MLK shirtless with tattoos, pointing the middle finger, smoking, and drinking. Rapper Sexyy Red is also known for her provocative and controversial post about political figures, including President Trump, as well as her unapologetic use of strong language.
Dr. King’s oldest daughter Bernice King commented on Sexyy Redd’s post saying “This is intentionally distasteful, dishonoring, deplorable, and disrespectful to my family and to 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.” Without any fuss or hesitation, Sexyy Red immediately removed the post saying she was just reposting something that she thought was innocent. “You ain’t wrong, never meant to disrespect your family my apologies. Just reposted something I saw that I thought was innocent.”
After Bernice King initially responded to the post, many people came to Dr. King’s defense calling Sexyy Red “ghetto”, “degenerate”, and “trash.” Bernice went back with a follow up post saying, “Please don’t project your thoughts onto me. I don’t believe Sexyy Red to be a “degenerate,” “ghetto,” or “trash.” I have spoken out in the past about the use of and comparison to either of my parents to denigrate other people. I just don’t understand this type of use of my father’s image (on #MLK Day, no less), in a way that does not convey what we know to be true about his service and sacrifice. Even of you disagree with him or with his tactics or even believe things said about him by people who hated him, why do this?”
Bernice also thanked Sexyy Red for her apology, letting her know it was not her intention for people to talk about Sexyy Red in a negative way. “Thank you for the apology, which I sincerely accept. Please know that it was not my intention that you be denigrated. I value you as a human being.” Bernice told Sexyy that she was concerned about the image because Dr. King has become a “caricature.”
Many X (Twitter) users appreciated the back and forth between Bernice King and Sexyy Red. Some calling it a learning moment, a moment of grace and humility, and Sexyy Red was even applauded to her mature immediate response. It is important to protect the legacy of those who came before us and educate those who don’t know the importance of protecting it. People must be willing to listen and learn. In the end, both Sexyy Red and Bernice King did the right thing in their own way.
