Angela Simmons Apologizes for Her Accessory at the 2024 BET Awards, Sporting a Striking Pistol-Shaped Purse.
After the backlash on social media, the 36-year-old entrepreneur and TV personality took to Instagram to address the controversy sparked by her fashion statement.
“I want to address the recent incident related to the green purse I carried to the BET Awards,” Simmons wrote on her Instagram story on Monday. “When I chose the purse, I thought it was beautiful and unique, and decided to use it as an accessory to enhance my beauty.”
She regretted her insensitivity in holding an object that symbolizes firearms, especially in light of her own personal and community experiences with gun violence. Her former fiancé Sutton Tennyson, with whom she had a child in 2016, was killed in a shooting in 2018. Simmons said she “understands the pain and harm this has caused.”
Last week, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence a national health crisis. In her apology, Simmons acknowledged the issue of gun violence and noted how it has affected many people, including herself.
“Gun violence is a scourge that has taken too many lives, especially among young Black men,” Simmons, best known for her role in the reality show “Home Run,” said. “By carrying this purse, I did not intend to promote gun violence in any way. It was a mistake that does not define who I am nor my commitment to ending gun violence.”
Similar Posts
Social media reactions were swift on Sunday night. Some took to X, formerly Twitter, to denounce.
“Let me clear this up: Angela Simmons BD [baby daddy] killed by gun violence… Angela’s boyfriend Yo Gotti, Yo Gotti’s brother was recently killed by gun violence… The case of the young Dolph’s murder is actively ongoing, and Angela thought she could have a stylish gun purse for the BET awards,” one person tweeted.
“I love #AngelaSimmons but this is sick and sad here…” another tweeted.
“I get that it’s a purse, but come on, this is the red carpet, you did it on purpose… she has too much money to even carry that thing, I don’t know where she got it from to be honest,” a third person tweeted.
Simmons notably starred alongside her family in the reality show Run’s House. The show, which aired from 2005 to 2009, followed the minister member of RUN-DMC, Joseph Simmons, “Rev. Run,” and his wife as they raised their five children, including Angela.
Simmons concluded her statement by vowing to continue advocating for peace and supporting families affected by gun violence.
