Angela Simmons – the daughter of Rev Run from Run-DMC – has apologised for wearing a gun-shaped bag at this year’s BET Awards.
The reality TV star and entrepreneur recently came under fire after she posed with an emerald green, rhinestoned clutch on the red carpet at the ceremony last Sunday (June 30). In photos, she would point the purse as if it were a real gun, aiming it at photographers with a smile.
Some people took to social media to share their disdain for the move. One X/Twitter user said that – due to Simmons’ son’s father and her current boyfriend Yo Gotti’s brother both being “murdered as a result of gun violence” – the accessory wasn’t a good idea. Another believed the Pastry footwear creator was “trying so hard to be something she [was] not”.
In response to the controversy, Simmons took to her Instagram Stories feed to apologise to those offended by the bag.
Angela Simmons posing with gun-shaped bag at the 2024 BET Awards. Photo credit: Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
“When I chose the purse, I believed it was cute and unique, and made a poor decision in using it as an accessory to amplify my beauty,” she wrote to her eight million followers on the app.
“I deeply regret that this item, which symbolises a gun, was inappropriate and insensitive, especially given my personal and community experiences with gun violence.”
Simmons – known for starring in reality shows Run’s House and Growing Up Hip Hop – called gun violence “a disease that has taken too many lives”.
Sutton Joseph Tennyson, Sr. – the father of Simmons’ now-seven-year-old son, Sutton Jr. – was shot and killed in November 2018. The incident occurred outside of his home, after an argument with another man allegedly escalated.
Simmons alluded to the event, saying: “I’ve obviously been through a lot in my personal life when it comes to gun violence, and it’s very personal to me. But I just liked the bag and thought it was cool and thought it was a fashion moment, and that was it.
“I didn’t have any intentions of ruffling anyone’s feathers.”
The Angela’s Cakes owner reiterated that she “don’t mean no harm” and is “super, super peaceful”.
“By carrying this purse, I did not intend to promote gun violence in any way,” she added. “It was a mistake that does not define who I am or my commitment to ending gun violence. To anyone who was hurt or offended by my actions, l offer my deepest apologies.”
Other news from the awards ceremony includes Donald Glover throwing shade at the high-profile awarding bodies such as the Grammys and BET, jokingly stating that he has “the same amount of BET Awards as Sam Smith“.
Also, Tyla teamed up with Skillibeng and Gunna to perform ‘Jump’ from her debut eponymous album.
Will Smith hit the stage, too. He delivered a rendition of his new song ‘You Can Make It’ with gospel titans Kirk Franklin and the Sunday Service choir.
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