Angela Simmons faced backlash for wearing a bedazzled gun-shaped purse to the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday (June 30). Simmons defended herself against critics, who believed the purse was in poor taste due to her ex-fiancé’s 2018 shooting death.
“So, I see a lot of conversation around the bag, the purse I wore to the [BET] Awards,” she said on Instagram Stories. “And normally I don’t address rumors and stuff, but I’m not like that, never been like that. I’m super—I’m not violent. I’ve obviously been through a lot in my personal life when it comes to gun violence and it’s very personal to me. But I just liked the bag and I thought that it was cool and I thought it was a fashion moment and that was it.”
She continued, “I didn’t have any intentions of ruffling anyone’s feathers. It seems like everyone – or a couple of people, I’ll say – are a little upset. But I don’t mean no harm. I’m super, super peaceful. And yeah, I’m sorry if it bothered anyone. But that’s not me, that’s just not how I am.”
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Sutton Tennyson, Simmons’ former fiancé and the father of her son, was shot and killed in 2018. His killer was sentenced to life in prison.
“I had to immediately go to therapy,” Simmons said regarding the death of her child’s father. “It was just a lot. It’s an ongoing thing. Without therapy, I don’t think I’d be here. This is like his dad we’re talking about, you know what I mean? I was numb. My son always asks about him, so there’s that constant conversation that I have to deal with.”
Simmons, the daughter of Hip-Hop legend Rev Run, is currently dating Yo Gotti. She began dating Yo Gotti in 2022.
View some of the reactions to Simmons’ gun-shaped purse below.
Everybody to Angela Simmons pic.twitter.com/DhruBWacLB
— Voldemort (@ib_2cute) July 1, 2024
Angela Simmons son is growing up without his Father & never even had the chance to know him because he was a victim of gun violence & she wants to be a corny low life goof walking around with a clip as a prop. This can’t be the legendary Rev Run’s daughter. pic.twitter.com/g5b8Gu7qUB
— Chris (@RealDealChris) July 1, 2024
Angela Simmons was the #BETAwards red carpet like #CulturesBiggestNight pic.twitter.com/moYJLbVA0G
— B E A N Z (Miss U Mom) (@BeanzGotGamez) July 1, 2024
Nobody:
— 🍊Elgin Barrett Eugene Smith lll🍊 (@Southside_Gunn) July 1, 2024
Angela Simmons: pic.twitter.com/778VB80w4B
Idk…Angela Simmons doing that on the red carpet just isn’t sitting right with me.
— Lex (@Beautiful_Lex) July 1, 2024
She knows firsthand the devastation of gun violence in our community, yet that’s how she chose to pose at an award show? 🤦🏽♀️ pic.twitter.com/kmkHIe9Ypy
Angela Simmons is soooo… pic.twitter.com/qSDBLSf8bB
— monique 🦂✨ (@Calmyaweaveboo) July 1, 2024
Like what was the reason #Angelasimmons? #BETAwards pic.twitter.com/65BIBXdvyM
— 🐝tch🫧 (@u__slow) July 1, 2024