Washed up comedian D.L. Hughley and LGBTQ ally/actor Terry Crews got into a heated Twitter altercation over the weekend over an interview Hughley gave where he suggested Crews was asking for it when he was sexually assaulted by another man at a Hollywood party years ago.
Related: Terry Crews reveals sexual assault at the hands of “high level” male Hollywood exec
A little backstory: In 2017, Crews opened up to GMA about the time he was sexual assaulted by Adam Venit, the head of William Morris Endeavor’s motion picture group and agent to many major Hollywood A-listers.
Crews said incident happened at a large industry function:
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“I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it, and squeezes my genitals. And I jump back like, ‘Hey, hey!’ … I go, ‘Dude, what are you doing? And then he comes back again and he just won’t stop. And then I really got forceful, pushed him back. He bumps into all the other partygoers and he starts giggling and laughing. I have never felt more emasculated, more objectified. I was horrified. I went over to Adam [Sandler] right then and there and said, ‘Man, come get your boy. What is his problem?’”
This past weekend, a VLAD TV interview surfaced online in which Hughley, who was one of Kevin Hart’s most vocal supporters during the homophobic scandal that cost him his Academy Awards gig, was questioned about what happened to Crews.
“I think it’s hard for me to think that a dude with all those muscles can’t tell an agent to not touch his ass,” the 55-year-old comedian opined.
Related: D.L. Hughley has meltdown, calls trans actress Indya Moore a ‘p*ssy’ for standing up against bigotry
He continued, “I don’t understand. I think that now everybody’s so into this notion that, ‘It happened to me too.’ Hey, motherf*cker, God gave you muscles so you could say no and mean it.”
The interview was recorded back in August, but Crews apparently hadn’t seen it until now, because on Sunday, he tweeted the video at Hughley, along with the caption: “‘You told the world “God Gave Me Muscles So I Could Say No…” Are you implying I “wanted” to be sexually assaulted? I’m listening, sir…’”
You told the world “God Gave Me Muscles So I Could Say No…”
Are you implying I “wanted” to be sexually assaulted?
I’m listening, sir…https://t.co/v6Q4xrvfJQ
— terry crews (@terrycrews) January 27, 2019
Hughley’s response:
You saw the video!
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) January 27, 2019
That’s when Crews replied: ‘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?’
To which Hughley replied: ‘That’s different than slapping the shit outa him’
Crews finished with the perfect clap back:
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
But he wasn’t finished yet.
Later, Crew issued a lengthy tweet to criticizing the celebrities, particularly black men, who he feels laughed off his #metoo story, writing:
I have looked up to you my whole career as one of the funniest most talented people I’ve ever seen. I remember when I saw you warming up the crowd at FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR and I thought “this man is a genius.” 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. You @50cent @unclerush and @tariqnasheed have decided my sexual assault was hilarious, whereas there are a whole generation of black women and men who don’t think it’s funny. ABUSERS PROTECT ABUSERS but they MOCK SURVIVORS as well. When you see me, keep it moving.
Related: Terry Crews tells Kevin Hart to stop playing the damn victim: “You’re not being attacked!”
DarkZephyr
THIS is what you’re choosing to go with? How the hell can someone “protest too much” and being told they wanted to be sexually assaulted? Are you crazy?? And why the heck are you speculating on whether or not he would enjoy being assaulted by a woman??? Sexual assault is never OK under any circumstances.
Kangol
It’s called sexual assault. You try it with the wrong person and not only will you get jail time, but you might get your head knocked off. Don’t make light of it happening to others, whether you like or not. Thankfully Crews handled it professionally, particularly because, as he noted in his original comments, as a black man he has to be especially careful in Hollywood in order to keep getting jobs, etc., and Venit is a powerful agent who thought he could get away with feeling up another man without his permission. It’s not acceptable, whether from women, men or anyone, if you do not want to be touched sexually, i.e. inappropriately.
iamru2
You 2 are just jealous and angry because no one ever hits on you!
dean089
Wow. Hughley is an asshole. If he had said that about a woman, that she ‘wanted it,’ there’d be riots, he’d be fired from his job, boycotted, etc.
Geeker
Hughley continues to be a piece of shit every chance he gets hopefully, the media and the entertainment industry stops giving him chances and soon.
Donston
I do think Crews hopped on a particular bandwagon to say, “hey, stuff like this happens to muscular, masculine black guys too”. His situation was unfortunate and probably very uncomfortable, but it also wasn’t nearly the trauma and/or the persistent discomfort that many others have experienced. However, I do appreciate him speaking out and showing support.
Hughley is just a bitter Betty saying anything to both be relevant and to hype up his “keeping-it-real comic” street cred.
Wicked Dickie
How do you know it wasn’t traumatic or discomforting for him? As Terry said, “were you there”? They agent literally groped Terry in front of other people. How demeaning do you think that is? he wasn’t at some gay club where men feel they have the right to grope every hot guy.
Rock-N-RollHS
@ Wicked Dickie oh please the dude Crews is a grown man. having his crotch grabbed could be annoying and piss him off, but traumatized! How ‘effin coddled do you have to be. Guy rode that wave and now people who never knew him, do. Best career move he was ever gifted.
wiredpup
Agreed. His claim of having PTSD is offensive and a slap in the face to those of us who actually suffer from PTSD.
TheMarc
Annnddd this is one of the problems in the gay community. It is not up to YOU to determine someone’s appropriate level of trauma after sexual assault. I consistently witness the diminishing of sexual assault that happens to men; not just by straight men, but gay men as well. It’s a long running joke. And now reporting sexual assault is jumping on a bandwagon?? Really?? I could understand if this guy had said “well if it had happened to me, I could imagine how I would feel…” and expected a medal thereafter. But, it did happen to him and quite frankly the “spirit” of the movement is exactly why he did it. To end silence for ALL sexual assault survivors and encourage them to speak out. Diminishing someone’s suffering due to your own personal hang ups related to the topic is simply inappropriate and frankly, disgusting.
Donston
Wicked Dickie, considering all the hateful and dismissive and incendiary things you’ve said in the recent weeks you really have no ground to call anyone out.
I will admit that what I said was a bit insensitive. Everyone should feel comfortable sharing whatever traumas and struggles they feel they need to. And I do appreciate Terry for helping to open up this door for men.
wiredpup
TheMarc – Oh boo hoo.
mtullius
TheMarc – You summed it up….couldn’t be said better! TC is my hero. He always stands up when its right and stays seated when its not. He is a real man!
PoetDaddy
Okay. I put D.L. Hughley on my personal “I will never watch them again list” after his loathsome support of Kevin Hart. Now I know I wasn’t wrong.
wiredpup
As wrong as He was its equally wrong for Crews to clam he got PTSD from it. It was really offensive to those of us who actually have PTSD.
Curtispsf
@wiredpup How about “WE” claim that YOU didn’t really suffer an extreme case of PTSD? How does that make you feel? Like our empathy for whatever suffering you experienced just went out the window? Who’s to say that “your PTSD” is real and not imagined? Stop holding yourself up as the litmus test by which all other suffering needs to be measured. It’s obnoxious and offensive.
Curtispsf
I’m guessing that the “D” in D.L. Hughley stands for “DICKHEAD”. /|\
wiredpup
I’m guessing that the “C” in Curtispsf stands for “CNUT”.
Curtispsf
Aww. What’s the matter little wiredpup? Did someone forget to take you out for “walkies”?
wiredpup
Aw what’s the matter did I hurt your delicate little feels? Did you learn all your comebacks at Trump University?
Thad
Could Terry Crews please host the Oscars? He can host. He hosted “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” – can’t be any harder.
Creamsicle
This exact behavior is why so many rape and sexual assault victims, male, female, and otherwise, are afraid to go to the police. Hughley should apologize for acting like a piece of shit. What could he possibly lose by apologizing? It’s not like making fun of Terry Crews is important to his act.