Da’Vinchi is apologizing for his controversial comments about Black Americans, admitting that his choice of words was “sloppy” after facing accusations of promoting anti-Black stereotypes.
The BMF actor addressed the backlash on Tuesday during an appearance on The Breakfast Club, acknowledging that his complaint about the American work ethic offended viewers.
“I apologize that my wording was harsh,” he said. “My message that I was trying to convey got lost with my clumsy wording.”
The controversy followed his appearance on Cam Newton’s Funky Fridays podcast earlier this month, where the Haitian-American actor suggested that American culture encourages incompetence.
“I think this country promotes that,” he told Newton after describing Americans as remaining incompetent for extended periods, which caused major backlash online.
Da’Vinchi said he was largely unaware of the backlash until friends began contacting him.
“I didn’t know how bad things were until people were calling me,” he explained.
After watching the interview himself, he recognized that his comments had created an impression he never intended. He also rejected claims that he believed slavery was an excuse for the challenges Black Americans face today.
“It’s legitimately why we’re here today,” he continued. “It’s not an excuse; it’s a reality.”
The actor maintained that his criticism applied to American society broadly, not Black Americans specifically.
“I know my wording was clumsy,” he admitted. “I think the language was too abrasive for a nuanced conversation.”
