As nationwide protests continue to spiral into uncontrolled riots in response to the death of George Floyd, Justin Timberlake’s political stance may have cost him fans and followers.
The multi-platinum singer announced on Saturday (May 30) that he would be donating to a nonprofit organization designed to fight criminal injustice for the poor.
“Please join me in supporting the Minneapolis protestors by donating to the @mnfreedomfund,” Timberlake, 39, wrote. “The freedom fund is combatting the harms of incarceration by paying bail for low income individuals who cannot otherwise afford: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org.”
Please join me in supporting the Minneapolis protestors by donating to the @mnfreedomfund. The freedom fund is combatting the harms of incarceration by paying bail for low income individuals who cannot otherwise afford: https://t.co/tFr8Jh7TUX
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) May 30, 2020
Timberlake, who has often been criticized for appropriating Black culture (mainly stemming from his lack of support and visibility in defending Janet Jackson during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show fiasco), in turn, saw a noticeable portion of white supporters upset with his latest announcement.
Proud men’s rights activist Mike Cernovich wrote, “You’re funding rioters.” Houston radio personality Ken Webster accused the pop star of blindly suffering from white privilege. San Francisco Republican Party Chairman John Dennis taunted him for entering Twitter’s raging political warfare while others, accused him of funding alleged radical movement Antifa.
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According to the Minnesota Freedom Fund’s mission statement, its goal is to create “A society that does not condition pretrial freedom on class or identity, that has ended mass incarceration, and that invests in restorative and transformative justice.”
Timberlake joins Kehlani, Noname, Seth Rogen, Steve Carell, Lady Gaga, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Don Cheadle, Harry Styles, Patton Oswalt, John Cusack, Ellen DeGeneres, Colin Kaepernick, Cynthia Nixon, Janelle Monáe, Liam Wong, Kali Uchis, Ben Schwartz and Halsey who have contributed monetary support to various causes.
Which, has infuriated plenty of people. Check out some of the reactions below.
You’re funding rioters.
— Essential Cernovich (@Cernovich) May 31, 2020
Kinda surprised to learn how little respect rich white celebrities like Justin Timberlake have for low income inner city black people. He’s paying to help the people who destroyed their community. https://t.co/O3lgFgNRzz
— Ken Webster ??? (@KenWebsterII) May 31, 2020
The idiots like @Sethrogen and Justin Timberlake are funding the wrong side of things. Why? This is one many victims for a false flag domestic terrorism operation. It’s horrible. #walkaway https://t.co/RcnTyqiHaL
— :Curious-Astronaut: (@davidurbano) May 31, 2020
Is @jtimberlake going to bail this savage out? ???? https://t.co/0p49iJI9dY
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) May 31, 2020
You’re funding Antifa domestic terrorists.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) May 31, 2020
Hey @jtimberlake these are the people you should be helping. Their communities completely disrupted and damaged by these riots! https://t.co/v759E5cGXw
— Kaya Jones (@KayaJones) May 31, 2020
So you are supporting the protesters who are destroying businesses, looting, rioting…those individuals wouldn’t be in jail if they were protesting peacefully. I’ve been a huge fan of yours for years but this is not a good look for you.
— Joann Cione (@joanncione) May 31, 2020
You really should have kept your mouth shut. Very disappointing that you support this. Lost 2 more fans.
— Joe (@hoofbt) May 31, 2020
I guess Justin Timberlake is a white supremacist. He wants to bail out all of these white thugs that destroyed our city. Not a fan ever again. https://t.co/pPtG5fBLPg
— JJShelton (@MN_Hoops) May 31, 2020
I'm not a fan anymore. Stop. Just stop. You have no idea. How about funding all the small businesses that were DESTROYED. Fund them. Jesus.
— Michelle R ❤? (@mreents27) May 31, 2020
You lost a fan
— RAMS 11A (@KCCORU) May 31, 2020
So disgusting! How about you donate money to rebuild all the peoples lives that were destroyed because of the riots! @jtimberlake no longer a fan. https://t.co/G3nIr2Kb2h
— Kiley Von Dollen (@Kileystedman) May 31, 2020
Will your money go to those arrested for looting, burning and committing violent attacks on people?
Your fans have a right to know.
— Cindy (@asheborn57) May 31, 2020
Hey Justin, you just lost a huge fan base by supporting domestic terrorists.
— Joe Y. (@JYurchukonis) May 31, 2020
You are paying to get these people out? jt, you lost all of my respect! pic.twitter.com/C6pY6CR2JX
— EstherWarrior (@believe_coach) May 31, 2020
Used to be a huge JT fan, no longer, along with all the other liberal elites bailing out anti-American causes. JT, use your money to rebuild the black communities destroyed by Antifa you stupid F*k.
— Shane Napper (@ShaneNapper) May 31, 2020
Low life's like Justin Timberlake, these moron's make me sick, what about those innocent people who have lost their livelihoods. pic.twitter.com/oav0syF4tb
— thomas lally????WWGOWGA (@tomlally1966) May 31, 2020
But wait, some people actually got a kick out of the controversy and ensured to let everyone know about it.
Justin Timberlake just sided with the protesters and white people across the country just lost their shit HDHDH
— RecNarukami? (@RecNarukami) May 31, 2020
Justin Timberlake has a whole fan base of conservatives… how am I not surprised
— m? (@tropikho) May 31, 2020
Trumpys are boycotting Justin Timberlake. LMAO like they ever were fans of his.
— Kimma (@Kimma_S) May 31, 2020
Conservatives mad at Justin Timberlake this morning. pic.twitter.com/6HM79mqDWh
— Dont ask me to smile (@berniebabee) May 31, 2020
people trying to say justin timberlake & chrissy teigen are helping out the white supremacists, looters, etc because they posted a bail fund for PROTESTERS are a few bricks short pic.twitter.com/THlBZBDa1v
— ☆ Ar!elle ☆ (@SpicyPurritos) May 31, 2020
Justin Timberlake said “please donate” and conservative white people are furious, flabbergasted, and appalled pic.twitter.com/KtNEg5SrjQ
— ℝ?ℙ ?ℝ??? ℝ?ℙ ??ℂ RIP KOBE RIP POPSMOKE (@Alex_Dolphinn) May 31, 2020
Some people are really mad at Justin Timberlake for bailing out protesters pic.twitter.com/i3RP5v8aAM
— Shamar English (@english_shamar) May 31, 2020
I'm not giving Justin Timberlake any cookies for donating money. He's made money off the backs of black people for over two decades, and I guarantee he could've donated more.
Double the amount and make the donation in the name of Janet Jackson and you MIGHT get a sticker. pic.twitter.com/ZCcvbFHKDr
— Hassan Sayyed (@HausUrban) May 31, 2020
Justin Timberlake will never formally apologize for the super bowl , that will be giving up his privilege, so y’all need to let it go. I love Janet Jackson, she’s moved on years ago
— Ubong E. ?? (@EkpoNeptune) May 31, 2020