Xavier Smalls Backlash: LGBT 'Abomination' Comments

Xavier Smalls Controversy: Tyler Perry Star Faces Backlash Over Anti-LGBTQ Comments

Xavier Smalls, the actor best known for his role as Hendrix in Tyler Perry's hit series Beauty in Black, is at the center of a major controversy after a video surfaced in which he calls LGBTQ people an "abomination" that "God doesn't tolerate." The backlash has been swift and fierce, with fans, advocates, and entertainment commentators weighing in on the stark contradiction between the comments and the character he portrays on screen. Here's everything you need to know about what happened, why it matters, and what people are saying.

Who Is Xavier Smalls?

Xavier Smalls is a rising actor and model who gained widespread recognition through his role in Tyler Perry's Beauty in Black, currently streaming on Netflix. His character, Hendrix, is a stripper who performs for both male and female clients — a role that put Smalls in the spotlight and built him a loyal fanbase that crosses multiple communities, including a significant LGBTQ following.

Before landing the role, Smalls had a modest entertainment profile. Beauty in Black became his breakout moment, and social media buzz around his character helped the show become one of Netflix's talked-about titles. His on-screen persona — openly sexual, boundary-pushing, and embraced by queer audiences — made the resurfaced video all the more jarring for many viewers.

What Did Xavier Smalls Say?

A video began circulating widely in March 2026, showing Smalls making explicitly anti-LGBTQ statements. In the footage, the actor refers to LGBTQ people as an "abomination" and claims that "God doesn't tolerate" homosexuality. The comments are unambiguous and have been described by many as a homophobic tirade.

According to reporting by MSN Entertainment, the video resurfaced and quickly went viral, prompting immediate outrage from fans and commentators alike. The timing — during an active run of his Netflix series — amplified the controversy significantly.

As Queerty reported on March 20, 2026, the site dubbed Smalls "TV's most famous gay-for-pay stripper" and framed the incident as a self-inflicted career implosion, noting the deep irony of a man who built his fame performing sexual content for queer audiences now denouncing those same people.

Why the Backlash Is So Intense: The Irony Factor

What has made this controversy especially explosive is the role Smalls plays on television. As Yahoo Entertainment pointed out, the character Hendrix is not just gay-adjacent — the show depicts him engaging in sexual scenarios with male clients as part of his work as a stripper. For many LGBTQ viewers, it felt like Smalls was willing to profit from gay audiences' engagement with his sexualized on-screen persona while privately holding views that condemned those very people.

This "have it both ways" perception — benefiting from queer cultural support while expressing homophobic views — has been the core of the backlash. Social media users were quick to point out that LGBTQ fans had been among the most vocal supporters of Beauty in Black and of Smalls specifically, making his comments feel like a direct betrayal.

Yahoo Celebrity covered the widespread fan response, noting that many who had championed the show and its cast felt blindsided by the revelation. Comments across platforms ranged from disappointment to outright calls to stop watching the series entirely.

Tyler Perry, Netflix, and Industry Silence

As of the time of widespread reporting, neither Tyler Perry nor Netflix had issued public statements addressing Smalls' comments. That silence has itself become part of the story. Fans and advocates have directed pressure at both the production company and the streaming platform, asking them to take a public stance or address whether Smalls would remain on the show.

Tyler Perry has historically been a complex figure when it comes to LGBTQ representation and commentary. His shows have featured queer characters and storylines, and he has a large LGBTQ fanbase. The pressure on him to respond in this case is correspondingly high. Beauty in Black is a Netflix property, and the platform has faced its own controversies around LGBTQ content and creator relationships in recent years, making its response — or lack thereof — closely watched.

According to MSN TV News, the actor has come under significant fire and the story continues to develop as audiences await a formal response from the stakeholders involved.

Public and Fan Reaction

The reaction online has been overwhelmingly negative toward Smalls. Key themes in the public response include:

• Betrayal: Many LGBTQ fans feel personally targeted, given how enthusiastically they supported the show and Smalls' character.
• Hypocrisy: Critics argue that accepting work that sexualizes queer dynamics while condemning LGBTQ people is fundamentally dishonest.
• Career consequences: Observers are openly speculating about whether Smalls will be recast, written off the show, or face other professional repercussions.
• Platform accountability: Many are calling on Netflix and Tyler Perry Studios to make a definitive statement rather than remaining silent.

Supporters of Smalls — a smaller but vocal group — have argued that he is entitled to his religious beliefs and that his professional work and personal views can coexist. However, this position has found little traction in mainstream commentary, where the focus remains on the perceived exploitation of queer audiences.

What This Controversy Reveals About Hollywood and LGBTQ Inclusion

The Xavier Smalls situation is part of a broader, ongoing conversation in Hollywood about the difference between representation and genuine inclusion. Shows and films have increasingly incorporated LGBTQ characters and storylines — often to positive commercial effect — but the behind-the-scenes reality doesn't always reflect those values.

When actors who play LGBTQ-coded or explicitly queer characters hold views that dehumanize LGBTQ people, it raises uncomfortable questions: Who benefits from queer storylines? Are these roles vehicles for authentic representation, or are they simply commercial decisions made without regard for the communities being depicted?

The incident has re-energized discussions about whether productions should consider the off-screen values and statements of actors hired to portray LGBTQ characters — and whether studios have a responsibility to audiences beyond simply casting diverse faces on screen.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Xavier Smalls Controversy

What exactly did Xavier Smalls say?

In a resurfaced video, Xavier Smalls called LGBTQ people an "abomination" and stated that "God doesn't tolerate" homosexuality. The comments were widely condemned as homophobic and have led to significant public backlash.

What show is Xavier Smalls known for?

Smalls is best known for playing Hendrix in Tyler Perry's Beauty in Black, which streams on Netflix. The character is a stripper who performs for both male and female clients, making the anti-LGBTQ comments especially controversial given the nature of the role.

Has Tyler Perry or Netflix responded to the controversy?

As of the latest available reporting in March 2026, neither Tyler Perry nor Netflix has issued a formal public statement addressing Smalls' comments or his future on the show. Fans have been calling for a response from both parties.

Has Xavier Smalls apologized?

Reporting at the time of publication did not indicate that Smalls had issued a public apology or clarifying statement. The story continues to develop, and any response from the actor would likely draw significant media attention.

Could Xavier Smalls be removed from Beauty in Black?

That remains to be seen. Whether his role on the show will be affected depends largely on how Tyler Perry Studios and Netflix choose to respond. Industry observers and fans are closely watching for any announcements regarding the cast going forward.

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding Xavier Smalls is more than a celebrity scandal — it's a flashpoint in ongoing debates about authenticity, representation, and accountability in entertainment. An actor who built a fanbase largely on the strength of LGBTQ viewers' enthusiasm for his queer-coded role has found himself at the center of a firestorm after expressing views that directly contradict the values of that same audience.

Whether this marks the end of Smalls' rising career trajectory or a moment from which he can recover remains an open question. What's clear is that audiences — particularly LGBTQ audiences — are increasingly unwilling to separate an entertainer's personal rhetoric from the roles they play, especially when those roles depend so heavily on the goodwill and engagement of the communities being targeted. As the story continues to unfold, all eyes are on Tyler Perry, Netflix, and Xavier Smalls himself.