Activists with the #MeToo movement, along with Time’s Up and the National Women’s Law Center, have expressed support for black survivors of sexual assault in the wake of allegations against rapper Clifford “TI” Harris and his wife, singer Tameka “. Tiny” Harris.
The scandal involving the rapper and former member of the girl group erupted over several weeks when women allegedly came forward to accuse the power couple of confiscating and leaving their cell phones when the Harrises took them, or other women , sexually assaulted in coercive drug binge.
This prompted the activists to address the issue to show how black survivors are often killed and their stories ignored in the national MeToo calculation in America on sexual assault.
“We know that many of you have come forward with credible accusations of horrific sexual abuse and violence among black celebrities,” the activists and groups wrote in a public letter. “Like you, we carry the emotional weight of this news and we know we’re reliving a collective trauma like the exposure of Cosby and R Kelly.”
In the letter from the #MeToo activists, the NWLC and Time’s Up, American media organizations are accused of not specifically covering black survivors of sexual abuse. “This tendency to ignore, ridicule, challenge and discredit the stories of black survivors is an attempt to silence us, and it is also an act of violence,” it said.
It adds: “The level of violence that has taken place against black survivors for so long requires stories and headlines that center them in all media.”
Lisa Bloom
(@LisaBloom)Good Lord. So many accused. https://t.co/Oge2uHCQ2F
The allegations against the Harrises only came to light in January after stylist Sabrina Peterson, a former girlfriend of the couple, made a shocking allegation that the rapper once pulled a gun on her during a dispute with his wife and another client.
Tameka Harris immediately fired the accusations and dismissed the claim of the beauty brand. Peterson has since claimed he took a polygraph test to verify her story.
At least one woman involved lawyer Lisa Bloom. The lawyer confirmed that the woman was willing to speak out against TI and Tiny, who are considered hip-hop royals in Atlanta. So far, the alleged victim remains unknown.
“We stand with her. The music industry is no longer timely on how women, especially black women, are humiliated and abused, ‘Bloom said in an Instagram post, saying: “Enough is enough. ‘
According to Peterson, several women used her to share stories about their own encounters with the couple and a bunch of their famous friends. Peterson shared only screenshots, noting that most of the responses outlined what his patterns of sexual abuse were.
The Harrises have issued a statement to Complex magazine acknowledging that their romantic life is unconventional, but that they strongly deny any wrongdoing.
“They strongly deny the worst allegations made against them,” the statement said.
Representatives of the couple confirmed to Complex magazine that they were investigating legal action against Peterson and others.
Requests for comment on Peterson, Harris and Bloom have not been returned.