Dr. Karri Turner Bryant and Pastor Jamal Bryant recently discussed the backlash surrounding Dr. Karri's nude-illusion gown worn at the annual UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball. During an appearance on The Tamron Hall Show, Dr. Bryant emphasized that "there is no book" for the title of First Lady.
The controversy ignited in late December when Dr. Karri donned a lacy black gown that appeared to leave her nude underneath. This drew sharp criticism from social media and certain factions within the church community, which claimed the outfit was too revealing.
However, Dr. Karri clarified during her interview with Tamron Hall that she dressed for herself and her husband, not for public approval.
“People have said, ‘Oh, you know, she knew it would get this reaction.’ My ego is not that big. I don’t dress for people. I dress for myself and for my husband,” Dr. Karri stated. “Am I a wife? Yeah, I’m a wife. I’m a daughter. I have a doctorate. I’m a professor. There are plenty of things that I do, and the challenge is, we often want to see a woman be one-dimensional. I am multi-dimensional,” she continued. “I carry multiple titles.”
Conservative Pastor Patrick Wooden Criticizes the Gown
Not all church members shared her sentiments. Conservative Bishop Patrick Wooden of the Upper Room Church of God in Christ criticized Dr. Karri's dress in a recent sermon, comparing it to a “$2 whore” look and rebuking Pastor Jamal for allegedly “demeaning” his wife.
“There is nothing classy about that. There’s nothing modest about that,” Bishop Wooden said.
Undeterred by the criticism, Dr. Karri maintained her stance during the interview, expressing her desire to be unapologetically herself.
“Now what you choose to call me on whatever day is fine for whatever that might be,” she said. “But I think that there is this idea that a woman can only be one thing, and once I happen to marry a pastor, I happen to fall in love with a man who is a pastor, right? And so with that came the title of First Lady. But there is no book for that. There is no manual for what that looks like. And I have decided that the title does not define me. I define what the title is.”
Pastor Jamal Bryant Addressing the Backlash
Pastor Jamal Bryant spoke on the matter, describing the negative comments as “painful” while considering whether to publicly respond.
“I don’t use my platform to preach against other preachers when there’s so much that’s going on in the world,” he mentioned to Hall. “It was very enraging and irritating, and at the end of the day, I had to think to myself to respond to that. Does that grow the church or does it diminish it? And so at that moment I had to separate my humanity and really deal with my divine call.”
Ultimately, Pastor Bryant stood up for his wife during a New Year's Eve sermon, aiming to clarify misconceptions.
“The dress was not see-through, the dress was flesh-color,” he declared. “I needed to set the record straight: I bought the dress! And I like it. I don’t care whether you like it or not, she ain’t married to y’all. She married to me.”
He also highlighted that the event they attended raised $4 million for the United Negro College Fund, stressing the importance of the gathering beyond fashion flare.
What are your thoughts on Dr. Karri Turner Bryant’s dress controversy? Are people overreacting?
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