Tyrese Gibson’s Antics Are Kanye Levels of Alarming

Tyrese Gibson has been famous since he blessed Coke with his sweet vocals and charming smile at 16 in the now famous commercial. But many more know him as Jodie (Baby Boy), Roman (Fast and Furious franchise) or Robert Epps (Transformers franchise). Then there’s Black Ty his R&B moniker for hits like Sweet Lady, How You Gone Act Like That and Stay. At 44 Gibson has proven himself. He has had longevity in film and music!

But Gibson’s star is crumbling. His name is more frequently linked with manic antics than accolades for his work. He rants online with a troubling frequency. Instagram is seemingly his best friend. He shares endlessly on the social media platform. Motivational talks, personal updates and professional announcement litter his feed. He is the king of TMI (too much information) and the butt of grammar jokes. In 2017 he went off the rails when he said, “Will Smith had given him $5 million to cover legal fees in his custody battle with ex-wife Norma Mitchell.” The Smith’s immediately denied the claim.

Since then the incidents have been less outlandish but the frequency has not declined. Gibson’s crying meme is so apropos of his overly empathetic and emotional posts over the years.

Now on a publicity tour for the release of his seventh R&B album, Beautiful Pain, he has plenty of soundbites and explainers for his troubling behavior in 2017. On Sway In the Morning he discussed his mental health and his experience with the psychiatric medication Rexulti, which is used to treat depressive disorders. He said, “I was out of my mind…Rexulti. Fucked me up.” Out of context this is a brave admission. But Gibson went on to rail his record company, the media and worst his most recent ex-wife Samantha Lee. Sway and his co-hosts let Gibson commandeer their platform for nearly an hour. It was not an interview, it was a monologue. His R&B Money Podcast appearance was simiarily awkward and alarming.

Tyrese Blames Depression Meds for Online Meltdown, Breakfast Club

Tyrese Blames Psych Medication For Erratic Behavior Over Recent Years, Vibe

TYRESE OPENS UP ABOUT HOW PSYCH MEDS IMPACTED HIS MENTAL HEALTH, HipHopdx

Tyrese Says Emotional 2017 Instagram Posts Were A Result Of A Reaction To Depression Medication, Yahoo News

The resulting headlines centered the Rexulti soundbite, without mention of Gibson’s troubling comments and behavior. The media accept, enable and even coddle Gibson. They offer no tough love or plea for accountability. They ignore his diatribes, dismiss the blaring signs of trouble, and turn a blind eye to the harm he is inflicting on his ex-wife and children. The media are complicit is his Kanye-like disintegration!

For some Gibson is simply a troll, a provocateur, a marketing genius. These labels were also assigned to Kanye before he lost his family, a billion dollars worth of deals and his sanity. Will Tyrese have to lose it all before he, his loved ones and the media handle him with more care?