Xavier Smalls faces backlash over resurfaced comments on LGBTQ+ community

Show summary Hide summary

• 🔥 Quick Facts
• What Xavier Smalls Said About LGBTQ+ People
• Why The Controversy Is Erupting Now
• The Impact on ‘Beauty in Black’ and the LGBTQ+ Community
• Xavier Smalls’ Career Before The Controversy
• What Happens Next in the Fallout

Xavier Smalls, star of Netflix’s ‘Beauty in Black’, faces mounting backlash after controversial comments about the LGBTQ+ community resurfaced online. The February 7 social media broadcast has sparked outrage, ending a month-long silence. Fans and critics are demanding accountability from the rising actor.

What Xavier Smalls Said About LGBTQ+ People

In the resurfaced Instagram Live, Xavier Smalls made explicit claims about God’s judgment and sin. The actor stated that while God loves all his children, he sends sinners to hell because he’s so holy he cannot coexist with unholy people. When directly asked if LGBTQ+ people would face damnation, he confirmed the belief applied to them.

Smalls listed LGBTQ+ individuals alongside murderers, liars, scoffers, and alcoholics, categorizing all as abominations that God doesn’t tolerate. He emphasized the beliefs were rooted in religious conviction, not personal hatred, but the framing drew immediate criticism from social media users and entertainment observers.

Why The Controversy Is Erupting Now

The screen recording, originally captured over one month after the actual broadcast, began circulating widely on March 20, coinciding with the Netflix release of ‘Beauty in Black’ Season 2 Part 2. The timing intensified the backlash, as new episodes were reaching fresh audiences. Social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X exploded with criticism.

Paul Poulos, the user who preserved the original video, provided the recording to Entertainment Weekly and verified its authenticity to the outlet. The delayed surfacing of the video suggests it had been shared privately among networks before reaching mainstream outlets and trending discussions. Despite the recent amplification, no official statement from Xavier Smalls, Netflix, or Tyler Perry has been released addressing the controversy.

The Impact on ‘Beauty in Black’ and the LGBTQ+ Community

Element	Details
Show’s LGBTQ+ Representation	Featured Ts Madison, RuPaul’s Drag Race judge, in 5 episodes
Smalls’ Show Role	Angel, male stripper in Tyler Perry’s Netflix drama
Background	Sacramento State theater graduate, William Esper Studio trained
Show Renewals	Renewed through Season 3, which will be the series finale

Community members and allies called the remarks offensive and harmful, noting that such statements contribute to stigma against LGBTQ+ individuals. The contradiction is stark: ‘Beauty in Black’ has actively included LGBTQ+ talent since its 2024 debut, yet one of its core cast members publicly expressed views seen as fundamentally opposed to inclusion. The show’s creator, Tyler Perry, has a mixed history with LGBTQ+ representation in his productions.

“That goes for other sinners. Scoffers, mockers, liars, all things that are an abomination. It’s not just the LGBT. If you’re drunk, if you’re an alcoholic, if you’re a murderer, these are all sins that God doesn’t tolerate.”

— Xavier Smalls, from resurfaced Instagram Live broadcast

Xavier Smalls’ Career Before The Controversy

Xavier Smalls emerged as a rising talent in Tyler Perry’s production ecosystem. The 2020 graduate of Sacramento State University trained at the prestigious William Esper Studio in New York. Before landing his role as Angel, he appeared in ‘Madea’s Destination Wedding’ and the short film ‘Shelf Life’.

Beyond acting, Smalls has worked as a writer and director, creating the short film ‘Picture Perfect’, which focuses on mental health and communication. His biracial background, both Black and white, has also shaped his public identity, as he previously discussed feeling pressured to adopt identities he wasn’t authentically expressing. The Sacramento native represented a new generation of Netflix and Tyler Perry talent until this controversy.

What Happens Next in the Fallout

The most critical question remaining is whether Xavier Smalls, Netflix, or Tyler Perry will issue official responses to the controversy. Social media demands include apologies, clarifications, or explanations of how Smalls’ views align with the inclusive casting seen in ‘Beauty in Black’. The situation mirrors recent celebrity controversies involving religion and LGBTQ+ issues, including Daytime TV icon Kathie Lee Gifford’s recent comments criticized as anti-LGBTQ+.

Industry observers note that streaming platforms face increasing pressure to address cast member statements that contradict their public commitments to diversity and inclusion. The timing of the resurfaced video alongside new season releases will directly test Netflix and Tyler Perry Productions‘ response protocols. Will they distance themselves from his remarks, issue joint statements, or remain silent and allow the controversy to fade as the news cycle moves forward?