T.I. is revisiting the 2019 controversy surrounding comments he made about his daughter Deyjah Harris, describing the experience in two words: “That sucked.”
The rapper discussed the fallout in a new People interview about fatherhood, his family and the lessons he has learned as his children have grown older.
“I’ve learned not to do as much talking as I do listening,” he said.
The backlash began after T.I. appeared on the since-deleted Ladies Like Us podcast and discussed accompanying his then-teenage daughter to gynecologist appointments in an effort to monitor whether she was sexually active. The podcast hosts later removed the episode.
The Family Relived the Controversy Through Their Reality Show
T.I. said the controversy unfolded while his family was filming T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle. “We experienced that as a family in real time, and it just happened to have been recorded,” he told People.
By the time the season aired, he said, the family had already gone through the immediate fallout and then had to watch the experience return through the television storyline.
Deyjah addressed the effect of her father’s comments during a 2020 episode of the VH1 series. She said she felt embarrassed and described their relationship at the time as awkward and uncomfortable. She also said the controversy had changed a relationship that she previously considered “pretty decent,” according to People’s coverage of the episode.
T.I. Previously Apologized for Discussing It Publicly
T.I. had already responded publicly during a November 2019 appearance with his wife, Tiny Harris, on Red Table Talk.
He said his original podcast account contained exaggerations and acknowledged that Deyjah objected to having the private subject discussed publicly. He called himself “incredibly apologetic” to his daughter for speaking about it.
T.I. Says He Now Spends More Time Listening
T.I. said he tries to recognize parts of his younger self in their arguments and perspectives rather than responding only as a parent. When discussing his sons, he said he has also learned to rely on “more faith than fear” as they begin driving, working and making decisions independently.
His children include daughters Zonnique, Deyjah and Heiress, and sons Messiah, Domani, King and Major.
Despite the difficult moments captured by the family’s reality shows, T.I. said he does not regret allowing cameras into their lives. He described T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle and its follow-up as a family “photo album” that preserves footage of his children at different ages.
The Interview Comes During His Final Album Era
The rapper recently released Kill the King, which he has described as his final album.
He is also performing with his sons Domani and King on the King Succession Tour. Entertainment Weekly reported that the tour is scheduled to conclude in San Francisco on Aug. 15.