Sexy Red stirred up major controversy when she posted an AI-generated image of herself dancing with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his daughter. Along with the post, she casually wrote, “Take that down, take that down right now!” Of course, the timing couldn’t have been worse—she shared it on MLK’s birthday. Needless to say, the backlash came swiftly.
People were shocked, outraged, and downright confused. The image quickly made the rounds online, with many questioning her judgment. But things got even messier when Dr. King’s daughter, Bernice King, decided to speak out.
“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,” Bernice wrote. “Please delete.”
The internet didn’t hold back either. Many rallied behind Bernice and tore into Sexy Red, calling her a “ghetto degenerate” and worse. But Bernice stepped in again to set the record straight: “Now listen, I didn’t call Sexy degenerate, I didn’t call her ghetto, I ain’t say she was trash, okay? I’m just speaking out against the use and comparison of the likeness of my parents. I’m not here to tear anyone down.”
Still, Bernice didn’t mince words about her frustration: “I just don’t understand it. Why would you use my father’s image on his birthday, of all days? A day meant to honor him and his work. It’s not like you showed yourself marching with him or protesting beside him. No—you put yourself in his arms in a way that has nothing to do with what he stood for. My father wouldn’t even look your way if he were alive.”
The incident sparked a heated conversation online, once again highlighting how easy it is to misuse technology—and how deeply people care about protecting the legacy of historical icons.
Look, I don’t listen to Bernice. She and I are probably the same age, so she’s not about to tell me what to do. I’m not saying she’s wrong, but let’s talk about Sexy Red for a second. First off, why do you even call yourself “Sexy”? Maybe somebody thinks you’re sexy, but I’ve seen your performances—the twerking, the shaking—and let’s not forget the stuff you’ve said about the colors of certain “holes.”
And you really thought it’d be okay to put yourself in the arms of a civil rights hero like Martin Luther King Jr. for the world to see? You thought people would just sit back and say, “Oh, alright, that’s cute.” No, ma’am. What Bernice typed for social media is not what she said at home—I promise you that. I bet she was pacing the house, breaking dishes, and letting it out. She told people not to project onto her or put words in her mouth, but let me tell you, as someone closer to the Civil Rights era, she was mad.
The thing is, this wouldn’t have hit as hard if, say, Tayshia did it. Or Michelle Obama—not that Michelle ever would. But Sexy Red? The clash between that ratchetness and Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy was just too much. It was loud and messy.
And then Sexy Red deleted her post but not before saying, “You’re not wrong. I never meant to disrespect your family. My apologies. I just reposted something I thought was innocent.” Innocent? Come on now.
Here’s the part that gets me: MLK Jr. doesn’t just belong to the King family—he belongs to all of us. He’s a symbol of the entire Black community’s struggle and progress. What Sexy did wasn’t just disrespectful to his family; it was disrespectful to all of us. You don’t take a man who gave his life fighting for justice and turn him into a gimmick for a flyer.
Bernice handled it gracefully, though. She accepted the apology and tried to educate her. She talked about protecting her father’s image and how important it is to keep his legacy alive. She’s right. The further we get from the Civil Rights Movement, the more people forget or turn it into something trivial. Schools aren’t teaching this history like they should. It’s on us—parents, communities, everybody—to make sure the lessons aren’t lost.
And Bernice said it best: “I regularly challenge the disregard.” That line hit me. Think about it—how would you feel if your father’s legacy, especially one rooted in justice and sacrifice, was turned into a joke or a meme?
She said, “All the best to you.” And she made it very clear to say, “Let me circle back to this.” Then she said, “The way my father died was unjust—state-sanctioned assassination.” Let that sink in. The government took her father out. That’s what she’s reminding you of.
Now, here’s the part where I step in. You’re out here putting your raggedy—yes, I said it, raggedy—self next to a historical figure like her father? Girl, sit down. Sexy Red, let me just say it plain: she’s as dumb as… well, let me stop myself before I go too far. But honestly, I don’t even know if there are actual lenses in those glasses she wears. She needs to visit an optometrist, get her vision checked, and really take a look at how badly she messed up.
Here’s the thing: anything related to civil rights leaders—people who fought, marched, protested, and gave their lives for our freedoms—is off-limits. You don’t touch that. And when you do, you’re opening the door for people who don’t even respect our history to do the same. It’s not a game. Living or dead, these figures deserve respect.
And let me be real: everybody already knows Sexy Red messed up. We don’t need to pile on. But this situation highlights something deeper: she’s not even 30, and clearly, no one has taught her the importance of knowing her history. That’s the real problem.
And one more thing—books. If you walk into someone’s home and they don’t have a bookshelf anywhere in sight, just vibes and Instagram-worthy decor? Make another friend. If they say, “Oh, I read everything on my Kindle,” okay, fine. But listen, in this digital age, things can vanish in the blink of an eye. You need to hold onto real, tangible knowledge because history isn’t just important—it’s everything.