Sexyy Red Apologizes to Martin Luther King Jr.'s Daughter After Posting AI-Generated Photo with Activist

Mar. 15, 2025

Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Sexyy Red in October 2023.Photo:Bettmann/Getty; Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

Bettmann/Getty; Aaron J. Thornton/Getty

Sexyy Reddidn’t mean to disrespectDr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

Dr. King’s youngest child, daughter Bernice, thencalled out Sexyy Red for sharing the image. “This is intentionally distasteful, dishonoring, deplorable, and disrespectful to my family and my father, who is not here to respond himself because he was assassinated for working for your civil and human rights and to end war and poverty,” she wrote on the platform.

Bernice, who’s CEO of the King Center, added, “Please delete.”

Sexyy Red in July 2024.Joseph Okpako/WireImage

Joseph Okpako/WireImage

The “Get It Sexyy” emcee took the photo down and issued a response. “You ain’t wrong, never meant to disrespect your family my apologies,” she said, explaining, “Just resposted [sic] something I saw that I thought was innocent.”

Sexyy Red’s apology was appreciated, asBernice later replied, “Thank you for your apology, which I sincerely accept. Please know that it was not my intention that you be denigrated. I value you as a human being.”

“I hope you understand my concerns about the image,” she continued. I know that my father has become a bit of a caricature to the world and that his image is often used with no regard to his family, his sacrificial work, or to the tragic, unjust way in which he died (a state-sanctioned assassination). Unfortunately, I regularly challenge the disregard."

Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.Dan Rather

Dan Rather

Bernice added, “I earnestly wish that people would imagine what it would feel like to see their deceased, murdered father repurposed for party fliers, unjust legislation, etc. All the best to you, young lady.”

In honor of her father’s holiday, she also shared various videos and photos from throughout his life. “Thank you for remembering my father in honorable ways. Thank you for your sincere, kind words,” shewrote to her followers.

“He wasn’t a savior, but he did yield himself as a solution. He wasn’t the Light, but he was a light and a love-driven leader,” said Bernice alongside a slideshow of Dr. King, who was killedat age 39on April 4, 1968. “He wasn’t the Truth, but he revealed truth and spoke truth, even when it wasn’t convenient and safe to do so. I’m grateful for him and grateful for you.”

source: people.com