Terry Crews Blasts D. L. Hughley for Mocking the Actor’s Alleged Sexual Assault
Terry Crews hit back at comedian D.L. Hughley Sunday during an exchange on Twitter about sexual assault, specifically how men “with all those muscles” should react if touched inappropriately.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor was responding to comments Hughley made about him during an interview in August 2018.
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Crews, who is one of the few men to share a personal #MeToo story, alleged he was assaulted by former William Morris Endeavor agent Adam Venit during an industry party in 2016. Crews sued Venit and WME. As Deadline previously reported, the case was settled and Venit retired in September.
When asked his thoughts on the case, Hughley told Vlad TV he found it difficult to believe “a dude with all those muscles can’t tell an agent to not touch his a–.”
Crews fired back at Hughley Sunday in a string of tweets.
“You told the world ‘God Gave Me Muscles So I Could Say No,’” the actor tweeted, along with a link to the interview. “Are you implying I ‘wanted’ to be sexually assaulted? I’m listening, sir.”
Hughley responded by saying, “You saw the video!”
You saw the video!
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) January 27, 2019
Crews then shot back, “Sir you said I should have pushed him back, or restrained him and I DID ALL THOSE THINGS… but you act like I didn’t. Were you there?”
Hughley went on to say Crews should have been more forceful, writing, “That’s different than slapping the s–t outa him.”
That’s different than slapping the shit outa him
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) January 27, 2019
That led Crews to say, “So sir… If you truly feel that is a correct way to deal with toxic behavior… Should I slap the s–t out of you?”
So sir…
If you truly feel that is a correct way to deal with toxic behavior…
Should I slap the shit out of you? https://t.co/GmePqluEIX
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 27, 2019
Crews then told Hughley he had lost a fan with his comments.
“I have looked up to you my whole career as one of the funniest most talented people I’ve ever seen,” the actor wrote. “I remember when I saw you warming up the crowd at FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR and I thought ‘this man is a genius.’
Crews continued, “But now you are an example of when comedy turns to sarcasm and cynicism,” the actor wrote. “And you find it extremely easy to get jokes at someone else expense. You mock my success, but all I ever did was support you.”
But now you are an example of when comedy turns to sarcasm and cynicism. And you find it extremely easy to get jokes at someone else expense. You mock my success, but all I ever did was support you.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 27, 2019
Many Twitter users, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter Bernice King, applauded Crews for speaking up.
“I appreciate your courage,” King tweeted at Crews. “You are a compassionate, educating voice for male victims of sexual assault. Thank you for standing.”
Dear @terrycrews: I appreciate your courage. You are a compassionate, educating voice for male victims of sexual assault. Thank you for standing. It matters for all of humanity and especially for boys and men who’ve been violated, but feel voiceless. Blessings.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) January 27, 2019
You can watch Hughley’s interview below.
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