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One of the groups getting $200k from the NFL and Roc Nation is getting blasted for a 2016 photo of its founder cutting a young man’s locks — but the kid himself says it’s much ado about nothing.
The pic was tweeted by Crushers Club — a Chicago youth empowerment group — almost 3 years ago, and shows Sally Hazelgrove cutting the locks of a teen named Kobe. Someone on the Internet dug up the tweet after TMZ broke the story … the NFL’s Inspire Change program, in association with Roc Nation, would be donating money to Crushers Club.
The social media backlash is focused on the imagery — a white woman cutting Kobe’s locks — and Sally’s caption, “It’s symbolic of change and their desire for a better life.” People who are critical think it reeks of cultural insensitivity.
Crushers Club
Kobe himself, though, says the critics have it all wrong. Once the Internet outrage began, he quickly posted a video explaining that HE wanted to cut his hair. “That’s something I wanted to do because I was tired of it. Tired of gang banging, tired of messing up. Now, I’m a changed young man.”
The NFL and Meek Mill clearly agree with Kobe when it comes to the work Crushers Club is doing for Chicago’s at-risk youth. Meek and Meghan Trainor are in Chicago Thursday to make Inspire Change’s $200k donation.
We reached out to Hazelgrove and she echoed Kobe’s statement — that she was only cutting his hair at his request.
One source involved in Thursday’s event said the attacks on Hazelgrove — who’s worked tirelessly for Chicago kids — came off as reverse racism. Criticism aside … the event and the donation are going forward as scheduled.