Angela Simmons took to social media to render a lengthy apology after she drew backlash over a gun-shaped purse that she brought to the BET Awards. Per Billboard, Simmons, 36, posed with the purse on the award show’s red carpet.
Photos also showed the entrepreneur appearing to aim with the gun-shaped purse. But in the wake of the backlash, Simmons, whose father is Run-DMC‘s Rev Run, posted a video explaining why she decided to pick the accessory in question.
“I see a lot of conversation around the purse I wore to the awards,” Simmons said. “Normally, I don’t address rumors and stuff but I’m not like that. I’ve never been like that. I’m not violent.”
She continued: “I have obviously been through a lot in my personal life when it comes to gun violence. It’s very personal to me, but I just liked the bag. I thought it was cool and a fashion moment. That was it. I didn’t have any intentions of ruffling anyone’s feathers … I’m sorry if it bothered anyone.”
Simmons is no stranger to gun violence as the father of her son and her ex-fiancé Sutton Tennyson was gunned down during an altercation outside his residence in 2018. Tennyson was shot 13 times.
Simmons also shared a lengthy post on Instagram and once again apologized for her actions. “I want to address the recent incident involving the green purse I carried at the BET Awards. When I chose the purse, I believed it was cute and unique and I made a poor decision in using it as an accessory to amplify my beauty,” she stated. “I deeply regret that this item, which symbolizes a gun, was inappropriate and insensitive, especially given my personal and community experiences with gun violence.”
The 36-year-old said what she did was a “mistake that does not define who I am or my commitment to ending gun violence.” “To anyone who was hurt or offended by my actions, I offer my deepest apologies,” she added.
Simmons’ boyfriend, Yo Gotti, jokingly responded to his partner’s choice of accessory, stating on his Instagram Stories that “She was just practicing.“
