'P-Valley' Star J. Alphonse Nicholson Apologizes For Skit About Homophobia: 'You Can't Make Fun Of Ignorance'

J. Alphonse Nicholson has apologized for a skit he participated in that was meant to skewer homophobia among some of P-Valley‘s critics.

The Jasmine Brand reports that Nicholson had been a guest on New Rory and Mal. After the interview, in which Nicholson talked about his role on the series as closeted rapper Lil Murda, he said he was asked by Rory and Mal to take part in a skit about the homophobic comments he’s had to endure because of his character and Lil Murda’s relationship with Uncle Clifford (Nicco Annan).

In the skit, Nicholson is smoking marijuana but when he tries to pass it to Mal and Rory, they pretend to avoid smoking behind him because of his role as Lil Murda.

In the skit, Nicholson is smoking marijuana but when he tries to pass it to Mal and Rory, they pretend to avoid smoking behind him because of his role as Lil Murda.

Fans questioned why Nicholson would take part in such a skit, and the backlash was such that Nicholson put out an apology Friday and said that the skit is being taken down.

“The skit I was told was to be done to make fun of the rumors and the ignorance that people surround myself, and the character, and me having my own strain, and people maybe not wanting to smoke with me because of the character that I play on Lil Murda,” said Nicholson in his video apology. “And so we’re picking fun at the ignorance and the ignorance of those people that make fun and create those situations. That skit was supposed to bring a certain amount of attention to the interview. And I believe it’s doing the exact opposite. It’s not really showing the light and the love that was shown in that interview.”

"We have learned very quickly that ignorance is ignorance. You can't make fun of ignorance. It's just ignorant. And so, I wish I would've stuck with my first instinct and not have done that skit," he continued.

“It’s being taken down immediately on all platforms. We have reached out to people to make sure that we’re getting it taken down. And once again, I apologize for offending anyone who watched that video, who watched that skit and felt like it was inappropriate and offensive — especially to my loved ones and my family in the LGBTQ community. I apologize sincerely, and we’re taking care of it.”

People close to Nicholson, including his wife Nafeesa and his co-star Annan supported his apology, with Annan specifically writing, "My brother."

Nicholson has generally shown respect and love to the LGBTQ community, telling Blavity TV that he feels his role as Lil Murda represents all of the closeted people in the Black community who struggle with being themselves.

“We know so many Lil Murdas,” he said in Blavity TV’s Rewind the Scene series. “…I told this story for them, for my brothers and sisters and everyone in between who struggle with being themselves.”