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Deon Cole wore Gucci bell bottoms at the 51st Annual NAACP Image Awards. His wardrobe choice led to comments from Snoop Dogg as well as “threats,” according to the “Black-ish” star.
At the show, Cole won the outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series award. His co-star, Marsai Martin, won the award for outstanding supporting actress for her role in “Black-ish.” While the show itself took home the award for outstanding comedy series.
Cole Posted a Screenshot of a Direct Message He Received Simply Reading: ‘Gay Ass N****’
GettyCole attending the 51st NAACP Image Awards, Presented by BET, at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California.
On February 25, Cole, 48, posted a 15-minute long Instagram video in which he spoke out about the criticism regarding his 1970s throwback outfit. The day before posting the video, Cole posted a screenshot of a direct message he received that simply read, “Gay ass n****.” In the caption of that post, Cole said that he had received “many many more derogatory messages and threats.” Cole added, “It’s sad that these messages come from my own kind but more about this tomorrow.”
Cole Said He Can’t Understand How His Bell Bottoms Generated So Much Hate From His ‘Own Kind’
Cole acknowledged that people were entitled to think what the want about his bell-bottoms but that he could not understand the “hate” he has received. The comedian and actor said that he also couldn’t understand how so much of the hatred came from his “own kind.”
Cole said in the video that he had “been told” that he had been called a “b**** ass n****” following the awards ceremony. Cole said that people had threatened violence against him and that “women” had said of the outfit, “You ain’t s*** no more. You was my favorite comic.” Cole said that he had been “denounced” from being funny because of the bell bottoms. Cole expressed his frustration that women who had called him gay because of his pants do not make comments on men who wear baggy pants that “sag of they ass” or who wear “skinny skinny” pants.
Cole said that he has been featured on numerous best-dressed lists because of his adventurous choices on the red carpet.
Cole Said His Bell Bottoms Were an Homage to the Disco Era
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Cole added, “I’ve always been about fashion, I’ve always been about culture and I’ve been a real one while doing it.” Cole said that as a native of Chicago, he has always been a huge fan of disco and house music. He said, “Why was it so far-fetched for me to pay homage to an era that I love, through Gucci, wearing a suit, a bell-bottomed suit, that led you all to say, “He gay, He a f*****.”
Cole namechecked several blogs including The Shade Room, saying that he wished people used the same energy they use to comment on articles from those sites, to fight injustice.
Snoop Dogg Told Cole to ‘Clap Back’ Against the Haters
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Snoop commented on Cole’s post saying, “That outfit was [funny]. Anyway u a comedian n**** deal with it [be strong] and clap back.” While model Tyson Beckford was complimentary of Cole’s video saying, “Preach! If they don’t wanna hear ya f***’m! Keep killin them wit Success.”
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