Pastor Jamal Bryant opened the new year by responding to online critics who scrutinized his wife’s attire at an event last month.
Bryant addressed the issue involving his wife, Karri Turner Bryant, who holds master’s and doctorate divinity degrees, during a New Year’s Eve service on Wednesday at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. From the pulpit, the 54-year-old pastor defended his wife and the black dress with flesh-colored lining she wore to the UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball on Dec. 20 at Signia by Hilton Atlanta, People reported.
Following the event, Turner Bryant went viral on social media over the controversial gown, with some saying that the ensemble was inappropriate and gave the illusion of nudity. In contrast, others stated that Turner Bryant needed to dress modestly as a pastor’s wife.
‘I need to deal with it head on’
Bryant didn’t tolerate negative discourse about his wife and called out everyone who had something to say about it during the New Year’s Eve service, which was shared on his and the church’s official Instagram pages.
“I needed to get this straight. I needed to deal with it head on,” Bryant began in the video. “Because the other day, the internet went crazy about a dress my wife had on.”
He continued, “Now, they didn’t say anything about the $4 million that was raised for the United Negro College Fund. They never mentioned that she prayed until Heaven came down. They never said anything about this was the largest fundraiser for HBCUs in the country. But insecure, jealous, petty, small-minded people got in their feelings and set up a false barometer of holiness based off of a dress.”
“Now, you got to help some people, because some people are going to embrace the full knowledge of ignorance without any assistance for understanding. The dress was not see-through, the dress was flesh-color.”
Before concluding his message, Bryant confirmed that he had bought the dress, liked how his wife looked in it and shut down naysayers who had something to say about how they operate within their marriage.
“I need to set the record straight: I bought the dress! And I like it. I don’t care whether you like it or not; she ain’t married to all. She married to me.”
What did social media users say about Bryant’s message?
Turner Bryant looked proud and appreciative of her husband’s support, and even thanked him in the post’s comment section.
“I Love You Baby! Thank you! Not just for me, but for every woman who has experienced what I continue to walk through,” she wrote. “Your words have been like a healing salve to my heart and your arms like a warm bath. Not a day passes that you don’t affirm who I am and how much you love. YOU ARE HIM! Thank you for always covering me.♥️😘😘😘😘.”
In the post’s caption, Bryant shifted away from the dress and focused on the issues most important to the Black community.
“The DRESS issue was dealt with last night at @newbirthmbc …. Now we must ADDRESS black unemployment, protection for the undocumented, health care for the underserved and access to higher education …. By the way over 100 people got saved last night and over 1000 kids were in our youth program. It’s UP from here ! 🙏🏾,” he wrote.
The video received mixed reactions in the comment section. Some online users, including supporters and celebrities, spoke highly of Bryant and his wife. In contrast, others discussed holiness and the embodiment of Christ, which is often preached in Black churches, depending on the denomination.
“Well said Nupe @jamalhbryant 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👌🏾♦️🫡 protect and cover your Queen and teach on the ‘false barometer of holiness'” 🔥🔥🔥,” one user said.
“Family!!!!! And the dress STILL fly. And my sis is STILL bad, beautiful, bold, and brilliant. 💃🏾💞” legal analyst and political podcaster host Angela Rye wrote.
“The dress was inappropriate to wear. Regardless of who bought it. The reason nobody is talking about the funds raised or the nature of the event is because the dress was inappropriate. It was a distraction. It was the wrong choice to wear to the event. Period. Point people to God,” a third user said.