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Deray McKesson Checks Comedienne for Mocking Police Violence at VMAs

Comedienne Rebel Wilson performed a skit at the VMAs poking fun at police violence but the joke fell flat with many activists and supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement who felt they too much light of a serious issue.

Comedienne Rebel Wilson performed a skit wearing the words "F--- tha Police Strippers" on a T-shirt at the VMAs Sunday night before presenting the best hip hop video award to Nicki Minaj. The act poked fun at police violence, but the joke fell flat with many activists and supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement who felt Wilson made too much light of a serious issue.
"A lot of people have problems with the police," Wilson said. She wore a police uniform on stage at first. "But I really hate police strippers," she continued before taking off the costume to reveal a T-shirt mocking a popular protest song by rap group N.W.A. The popular 1988 record was based on the group's real-life frustrations dealing with police officers in Compton, Calif.
"They come to your house. You think you’re getting arrested, and you just get a lap dance that is usually uninspired," Wilson continued in her joke. "I hate this injustice, hence the shirt."

Activist Deray McKesson later tweeted to the network and comedianne expressing disapproval of the skit. 

When some began telling McKesson that it was "just a joke" this was his response. 

There were other racial mishaps during the show last night such as the airing of MTV's "White Squad" commercial. The parody company created by the network is basically a dial-a-white-person service for people of color who need help in situations where they face racial inequality. But that was also not very funny to many, including author Bad Feminist author Roxane Gay.

To add insult to injury, VMAs host Miley Cyrus also referred to rapper Snoop Dogg as her "real Mammy." The term mammy was often used in the South to refer to Black women who were housekeepers or nannies to white families. In general, mammy was a role Blacks played to provide comfort to whites in order to survive. Some tweeting, including Michaela Angela Davis, were taken aback by this moment.

Overall, many Black people watching and tweeting were not pleased with the show because of these questionable moments and rightfully so as the wounds from being mistreated for their skin color throughout history and in present times are not close to being healed. 
Follow Natelege Whaley on Twitter: @Natelege_.
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(Photo: Christopher Polk/MTV1415/Getty Images)

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