Music is considered to be the universal language of love, touching everyone no matter race or gender. This might be common knowledge to some, but not to all as Tank was the subject of ridicule over Memorial Day weekend for performing at D.C. Black Pride.
The veteran R&B singer-songwriter was billed for a special day party performance to commemorate the event that normally hits the city just before larger LGBTQ Pride events in June. Other slated acts throughout the weekend included Cardi B, Phresher and Safaree. Tank was seen performing some of classics and new jams from his latest project, Sex, Love & Pain II with his shirt off, a typical act that didn’t sit well with fans.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUpzo6dB427/?taken-by=imdarylwilsondc&hl=en
Twitter was flooded with questions about the singer’s sexuality and was slammed for performing for his LGBTQ fans. The singer has always lent support to the LGBTQ community and a mentor to rapper Siya, who considers herself the “LGBT Jay Z.” Many also defended the singer for simply doing his job and wondered why so-called fans decided to bash him in the first place.
They also pointed out the true star of his set–a fan who laid down the perfect penché that would shut down any vogue battle.
Gay men with nice bodies and clean cut faces… yeah Tank was loving that view.
— tarshay. (@Ucankissmypump) May 29, 2017
https://twitter.com/Nekiraa/status/869405529654906880
So Tank did Gay Pride half naked ??
— A Handsome Queen ??✊? (@Im_bull_forreal) May 30, 2017
that reminds me. I really do think the negative comments regarding Tank's pride performance are mad shitty. Like, grow the fuck up.
— denver sean. (@DNVRSN) May 29, 2017
That Tank performance was at a gay pride event? Lol. That makes that leg in the air with the low top Jordan that much more hilarious.
— Sir-Hampton (@_sirhampton_) May 30, 2017
Encouraging to see Tank, a straight black man, performing at Black LGBT Pride event in DC this weekend. Open minds. Open hearts. https://t.co/BpogpPRMbX
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) May 30, 2017
What y'all really need to be talking about is how Tank performed at a gay pride event before y'all favs that y'all love and support so much. pic.twitter.com/TIs0HRdTQx
— ᴅᴏʟʟᴀʀ (@callmedollar) May 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/jamKartel/status/869604607173025793
At the end of his set the singer made it clear he was an ally. “If they ever ask u where I stand…tell em I stand right the f**k here,” he said before leaving the stage.
https://twitter.com/tysandsnyc/status/869018941720580098
The singer hasn’t publicly commented on the backlash, but shared a reflective post on his Instagram account, simply captioned, “An amazing moment…”