Jesse Williams Criticized For Emmett Till Meme

Jesse Williams

Jesse Williams Receives Backlash For Nike-Inspired Emmett Till Meme Promoting Movie

Jesse Williams is excited to reveal the latest film he’s been working on. “Till”, a story about Emmett Till‘s murder and its aftermath, serves as Williams’ transition from an actor to the director’s chair. However, when it comes to marketing, he may need a little help in that area.

On Monday, Williams took to Twitter to promote the upcoming film and in an effort to capitalize on the popularity of Colin Kaepernick’s recent Nike campaign, he published a series of memes featuring Emmett Till’s mother, Mamie Till.

The photos included Mamie Till over her son’s open casket with the caption:

“Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”

Many Twitter users took issue with the use of Mamie Till’s image, reiterating that she did not sacrifice her son, he was murdered by white supremacists.

Jesse Williams posted that photo of Mamie Till with the Kaepernick quote like she made a choice to sacrifice her son to uh… murder.

Let's think about things before we slap a meme over it.

— Happenstance the Rapper (@BeezHunny) September 24, 2018

So Jesse Williams divorces a black woman and loses his good sense it seems…what is this?! Emmett Till wasn't a sacrifice he was murdered by white supremacy.

(Also too many people liked this bullshit) pic.twitter.com/i5ZlBRnuWh

— The Harlem Shimmy (@Say_Yes_2theJes) September 24, 2018

Jesse Williams' tweets today about Emmett Till, is exactly why there’s only like 3 light skin people in Wakanda.

— NUFF (@nuffsaidny) September 24, 2018

While there was a ton of backlash surrounding the images, there were some people who actually sided with Jesse, providing an alternate view as to why Mamie Till indeed had to make sacrifices for the greater good.

#TiLLtheMovie l can’t be the only person who knows what @iJesseWilliams was trying to say ????? emmett’s mom WANTED her son to be shown in his casket so the world could see what they did to him hence stand up for what you believe in/sacrifice.

— Brianna (@breexy906) September 24, 2018

Jesse has since deleted the tweets. What are your thoughts on the memes?