NFL linebacker Kyle Queiro apologized to neo-soul legend Jill Scott after questioning why fans found her attractive, but her response proved her level of class transcends looks.
In a series of since-deleted tweets from Friday (July 10), Queiro wrote, “People are attracted to JILL SCOTT!?” and “& by no means is she ugly. But y’all really sexually aroused by her huh?” He received backlash from musicians such as K. Michelle and Tory Lanez as well as fans who criticized him for commenting on a Black woman’s physical appearance while praising the Grammy award-winning artist’s beauty on the platform.
Queiro issued a public apology to the “A Long Walk” singer one day later. “First and foremost, I would like to apologize to Miss Jill Scott. The topic of your beauty should not have been shared over social media for public discourse. There’s truly no excuses or explanations to be made. My comments were distasteful and unbecoming of a Black man to speak negatively of a Black woman under any circumstance,” he penned in a Notes app letter that he posted on Saturday (July 11). “I will strive to do better and I will utilize what platform I have to promote positivity and empowerment within our community, particularly for Black women.”
Scott seized the opportunity to respond by exemplifying how to utilize one’s platform to empower Black women. When she saw her name trending on Twitter, she turned the attention away from her and back to the Black women who’ve lost their lives during the resurgent Black Lives Matter movement, such as Breonna Taylor and Oluwatoyin Salau, as well as Sandra Bland, who died five years ago today (July 13).
“Wait…I’m was trending again??? Ok then-JUSTICE for Breonna Taylor!!! Justice for Oluwatoyin Salau!!!! Justice for Sandra Bland!!!!!” the 48-year-old superstar wrote on Twitter. “Loving ourselves and each other is respectful and uplifting; supportive. EYES ON THE PRIZE, LOVE VILLAGE, EYES ON THE PRIZE.”
The 25-year-old athlete praised Scott for her response, noting it at the end of his apology letter. “Miss Jill Scott just did this so gracefully by taking my foolishness as an opportunity to shed more light on the injustices against Breonna Taylor and I hope to only follow in her footsteps,” he wrote.
Check out Queiro and Scott’s tweets below.
UPDATE: An earlier version of this article misspelled Kyle Queiro’s last name.
