T.I. Called Out By Victims Of Umi Restaurant Incident For Not Speaking With Them

BY Erika Marie 21.6K Views
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T.I., Williams Johnson, Boycott, Umi, Atlanta, Discrimination
William Johnson said he was "disappointed" in T.I. for meeting with the owners and accepting an apology on their behalf.

Kaylan Colbert and her husband, William Johnson, are at the center of a controversy stemming from an incident that occurred at a restaurant in Atlanta. We previously reported on the story about the couple and how management at Umi restaurant in Atlanta asked for William to leave because he was wearing sneakers—Air Force 1s, to be specific—when it stated that those shoes were against dress code. Things began to heat up during the confrontation when it was pointed out that a White woman at the bar was wearing sneakers but she wasn't being asked to leave. T.I. caught wind of the controversy and ushered in a potential boycott, but Johnson has a few words for the rapper now that T.I. reportedly received an apology from the owner and accepted on behalf of those involved.

T.I. shared a video of himself meeting with the owners of Umi, but that didn't sit well with the people involved in the incident. "Tip, you didn't reach out to us at all and you spoke on our behalf," he said. "You didn't go to the issue. He never apologized on your video. All he spoke of was his connections and what he could do for his business. It wasn't about what's going on with us, how I feel, how I feel threatened, how he actually treats people from our community." Johnson went on to say that the owners of the restaurant have personal relationships with politicians and rappers in the city, and he believes that's why T.I. didn't reach out to his family.

Johnson added that he was "disappointed" and "hurt" but T.I.'s actions because the rapper was someone he admired. He also said that he's surprised that Killer Mike hasn't said anything, either. City councilmen have reportedly reached out, but Johnson wanted to know, "Where is the love with your own people first instead of trying to save face with someone who has clout in this city?"

About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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