A Texas prosecutor who practices law by day and is a TikTok chef at night is under fire over resurfaced tweets. Waymond Wesley II is a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Wesley, who goes by Chef Way on TikTok, was exposed for posting colorist tweets from 2015 to 2016.
A series of tweets from his now-deleted account shows posts where he compares dark-skinned Black women to trash, says they are “too Black,” and crops them out of photos to make it more appealing in his eyes.
He also made degrading comments about Sandra Bland after her death. “If black lives mattered to Sandra Bland, she wouldn’t have taken her own life. I’m serious too,” he said in 2015.
👏🏾Around of applause to all the Black Women + who worked as a collective to CANCEL the colorist goofy, who was trying to rebrand himself as a hobby chef. #Chefway
Consequences of gender base discrimination directly targeting Black women to gain a following across social media. pic.twitter.com/lJeZH7Gs2n
— HonorableSienna (@HonorableSienna) January 10, 2023
Wesley’s Tweets Were Caused By Alcohol Addiction, He Says
In his apology issued via social media, Waymond Wesley II said that he was battling alcoholism in 2015. He said his tweets were a result of his addiction-influenced mindset.
“To those I’ve hurt with my past tweets that have resurfaced, I am deeply sorry,” he tweeted. “That was a moment in my life where I was sick in more ways than one,” Wesley said. “Cooking saved me. You have watched a flawed man heal, and who will continue to heal and learn. Thanks for being along for the journey.”
To those I’ve hurt with my past tweets that have resurfaced, I am deeply sorry. That was a moment in my life where I was sick in more ways than one. Cooking saved me. You have watched a flawed man heal. I will continue to heal and learn. Thanks for being along for the journey.
— Chef Way (@ChefWay__) January 9, 2023
Kim Ogg, the district attorney for the Harris County, released a statement to KPRC saying that Wesley addressed his issues before becoming a member of her office and deserves a second chance.
Mr. Wesley has explained that these posts came during a period in which he was struggling with serious personal issues, including alcohol addiction. Prior to joining our office, Mr. Wesley went through treatment and has worked with the State Bar of Texas to resolve his issues. His recovery is ongoing. I am a believer in second chances, and Mr. Wesley has conducted himself professionally since joining our staff. I am confident that will continue.
Despite these statements and apologies, Black women are not open to embracing a colorist. Take a look at what Twitter had to say below.
I was there.
I saw those tweets in real time.
He bullied dark skinned Black women and girls to the point where they deleted their accounts.
But he wanna be a viral influencer.
How many girls gave up because of his harassment?
Does ChefWay__ think about that? Prolly not.— Optimus Fine (@sunnydaejones) January 10, 2023
Got folks are asking if I regret contacting a few of @ChefWay__'s brand partners & encouraging them to cut ties. The answer is a resounding "no." The harm he has caused to Black women/girls is immeasurable and accountability is long overdue. His downfall is of his own creation.
— T.L. Gill (@LimitlessShe) January 10, 2023
Black men built large followings between 2010-2016 by being misogynistic, colorist & downright nasty to Black women cause at one point, that was an EASY way to build a platform. Then they took a break & came back as feminists, chefs, lawyers, & “I love Black Women” accounts.
— I appreciate you. (@DeeLaSheeArt) January 8, 2023
"Cooking saved me". Not introspection. Not self-examination. Not ya mama calling u a ragamuffin 4 ur way venomous speech. But…cooking. pic.twitter.com/6Wr2rFugEy
— K€nnY(B☆i) (@ItzKennyBoii) January 10, 2023
Chef Way is yet another example of how men can spend YEARS doing whatever they want to women and we're supposed to believe that's a phase they grow out of.
That's what irks me.— Optimus Fine (@sunnydaejones) January 9, 2023
I believe Black women may very well be the architects of home cooking & soul food, so essentially you are rebranding yourself on the backs of the exact people you hated.
True growth means giving the Black women you have hurt space to heal & express.
I hope you do so. Good luck
— Anthony V. Clark (@anthonyvclark20) January 9, 2023
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