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![Angela Simmons](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.vibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-01T125135.024.png?w=910&h=511&crop=1)
Angela Simmons wore a stunning emerald-gemmed gown to the 2024 BET Awards, but had the fashion moment stolen by controversy surrounding her choice of accessories.
The entrepreneur chose to wear an emerald bedazzled gun clutch to compliment her peacock-esque garb, and silver shoes. And although she undoubtedly served a look, social media had much to say regarding her own experiences with gun violence, which she addressed.
“So I see a lot of of conversation around the bag, purse I wore to the awards and normally I don’t address rumors and stuff, but I’m not like that. Never been like that.” she said in video. “I’m super, like not violent. I’ve obviously been through a lot in my personal life when it comes to gun violence and it’s very personal to me. But I just liked the bag and I thought it was cool and thought it was a fashion moment.”
The 36-year-old added, “I didn’t have any intentions of ruffling anyone’s feathers. It seems like everyone’s– or a couple of people are a little upset, but I don’t mean no harm. I’m super, super peaceful. I’m sorry if it bothered anyone but that’s not me, that’s just not how I am.”
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Social media’s backlash seemed to mostly stem from Simmons losing her son’s father, Sutton Tennyson, to gun violence in 2018. Additionally, her boyfriend, Yo Gotti, lost his brother, Big Jook, to a shooting in January of this year.
Upon Tennyson’s death, she took to Instagram to write, “Thank you for leaving behind my greatest gift. I’m hurting. I’m numb. Thank you for the outpouring of love, everyone. I cant believe I’m even saying Rest In Peace, Sutton. I promise to hold SJ down in every way, I promise.”
Their son was two years old at the time.
She also appeared on Tamron Hall in 2022, where she further opened up about the loss.
“All of a sudden I was numb,” she recalled that tragic day. “That day I was like, ‘literally don’t feel my body.’ I had to immediately go to therapy. It was just a lot. It’s an ongoing thing. Without therapy I don’t think I’d be [sitting] here. This is like his dad we’re talking about, you know what I mean? I was numb. My son always asks about him, so there’s that constant conversation that I have to deal with.”
She credited her family, friends and life coaches for helping her through that time.
According to news sources, Tennyson was shot 13 times with a .45 caliber gun in Atlanta, Ga. on Nov. 3, 2018. Reportedly, Tennyson’s lifeless body was left inside an open garage as the perpetrator “sped from the scene.”
Per the Atlanta Police Department, eye-witnesses claimed that shots rang out after he had a verbal altercation with another man. The assailant, Michael Williams, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and murder a few days following the fatal shooting.
He reportedly turned himself in to the police shortly after and was sentenced to life in prison.
Take a look below at what social media had to say about Angela Simmons’ fashion choice.