Comedian and actor Mike Epps is apologizing for his misinterpreted critical comments about the Donald Trump administration temporarily “cutting off food stamps” and about folks celebrating men coming home from prison.
Epps previously went viral after commenting on the Trump administration briefly pausing SNAP benefits for over 42 million Americans. The move was in response to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
On November 12, it ended after 43 days. But before that, on October 31, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to use contingency funds to pay out SNAP benefits payments. The order arrived as a temporary pause to food stamps loomed beginning on November 1. On November 3, administration backtracked, adamantly declaring it would only “partially” fund SNAP benefits.
After at least two federal court orders demanded the Trump administration fully fund benefits, they appealed. On November 7, the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration’s appeal, temporarily blocking the federal order demanding a full funding of SNAP amid the shutdown.
Mike Epps On SNAP Benefits & Black Community, Explains Why He Was ‘Glad’ Donald Trump Administration ‘Cut Off Food Stamps’
Hours after the government reopened, Mike Epps appeared on with ‘The Breakfast Club.’ In a November 13-released episode, Epps briefly mentioned the Donald Trump administration’s block on fully funding SNAP benefits. He also spoke on the effects of food stamps in the Black community. During his interview, Epps said:
“I told people when these food stamps and stuff get cut off, ‘Don’t worry about that.’ See, Black people, we’ve been getting our sh*t cut off. We’ve been getting our doors kicked in and stuff. This is not for us. So don’t take this as personal about the food stamps and all that.
I’m actually glad they’re cutting some of these n***as off food stamps because some of us need to not be on food stamps, because it’s a trickle-down effect. You get the food stamps, then you go buy the food that gives you cancer, then you eat the food that gives you cancer, then you’re sad, you’re walking around here upset, your diet’s f**ked up. Now, I’m gonna tell you some honest God truth. Your diet done sent a lot of n***as to prison.”
When host Charlamagne Tha God told Epps that folks would start calling him “MAGA Mike,” and be viewed as the new poster boy for Fox News, he remained unbothered. He said:
“You think so? Listen, brothers and sisters. ‘Brothers and sisters! You don’t know what this world is coming to!’ No, listen to this. No, they can’t say that about me. See, that’s one thing about me and little Boosie Badazz: we can’t be canceled. F**k the internet! I don’t give a f**k about the internet. B*tch a** n***a. And everybody out there that think they wanna be mad and say something: f**k you, man!”
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Mike Epps Says We Shouldn’t Celebrate Men Coming Home From Prison; Later Addresses Comment And SNAP Benefits Criticism
Days following his critical comments on SNAP benefits being cut, Mike Epps shared another critical comment. This time, he criticized people celebrating men coming home from prison. While appearing on the November 16 episode of Jim Jones‘ podcast, ‘Artist 2 Artist,’ Epps said:
“Those are the wrong journeys to celebrate, young men. There’s no reward after coming home after 30 years. You don’t get no f***ing care package, n***a. You’re a failure. Get your a** out here and help these kids. Pay that back forward. You see what I’m saying? That’s the reward.
I got n***as all the time [who] come straight home, [and] if I don’t do what they want me to do for them, I’m a sellout. I’m a sucker a** n***a. I done did the whole bid with them. I done been to Walmart a hundred times, JPaying, meeting guards, doing all kinds of sh*t I ain’t supposed to be doing f***ing with you, n***a. But, [Jim Jones interjects and says: “As soon as you say no one time…”] they done forgot about the other 99 times you said, ‘Yes.'”
Finally, on Monday (November 24), Epps took to his Instagram and addressed his critical comments. He clarified his opinion about celebrating men coming home from prison, plus his comments about SNAP getting cut. Epps captioned his 2-minute video post and said, “Thanks for you ear. Sorry for the misunderstanding. Brothers that come home and change their lives need to be celebrated.” In his video, he shared:
“What’s up, y’all? It’s your man, Mike Epps, man. I just want to get on here and clarify and clear a few things up. Number one, about the brothers coming home from prison being celebrated. I’ve always been a part of reform. I got brothers right now from my hometown that I’m trying to help come home. They’ve been in prison forever.
I think you guys might have misunderstood what I was saying. I might have said it the wrong way. But, what I was trying to say is: we don’t want to send kids mixed messages about coming home from prison, being celebrated — feeling like you got to go to prison and do 30, 40 years to be celebrated. I think you guys misunderstood that, misunderstood what I said.
I wasn’t saying that it was wrong to be celebrated, but we don’t want to send a kids saying, ‘Prison is great,’ or that, ‘You want to go do 30 years and come home.’ I don’t think that’s cool. So, I’m sorry if anybody took it the wrong way and got offended. I love my brothers. I’ve been incarcerated myself. I understand what that is. But, I might’ve said it the wrong way. But, I mean well, and I love you brothers. Free my brothers that’s coming home. My man Derrick. Free all the guys that’s coming home, man.
And about the food stamp thing. The food stamp thing was misunderstood too. What I was saying is: is that we need to break the cycle of being on food stamps. There’s three generations of people that have been on food stamps: grandmother, mother, and daughter. That’s crazy. We got to do better. We can’t think that we need assistance. I know there’s some people out there that need assistance. That’s well, fine, and understood. But, there’s people out there taking advantage of the system that’s not good. So, just want to apologize if I offended anybody. You know I love y’all, man, and keep on doing the right thing. Peace.”
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