Terry Crews On Working With Homeless Katt Williams, Pay In Movies & Gabrielle Union Fallout

you hurt me too t when you tried to. boycott Magic. City oh I was getting on everybody. ner Theos of. thatle P the price want a slice got the. roll of dice that's why all my life been. grinding all my life all my life running. all my life sacrifice hustle P the price. want a slice got the.

why my life been. my hello welcome to another edition of. Club Shay I am your host Shannon sharp. I'm also the proprietor of Club Shay and. the guy that's stopping by for. conversation on the drink today is one. of the most recognized stars on the. planet he's a world famous actor. multi-talented TV host sitcom star. comedian talented artist bestselling. author Children books illustrator. advertising pitch pitch man human rights. activist a uh Hollywood a-lister one of. the f celebrities on the planet three.

times people sexiest man of the year his. acting career Spann four decades awarded. a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. caring husband I think he a grandfather. too now that's it proud father greater. Flint African-American Sports Hall of. Fame and duct te NFL Alum good friend of. mine Terry crw T crw what's up man man. how you it's been good man it's been a. long time it's been a very long time cuz. I remember I used to bump into you all. the time especially at uh events at the. Super Bowl but I hadn't seen you long.

time and you say you know a lot of. things you know you had the uh uh Co and. you know the family you know got. grandkids now so it's just not as it's. just not as not as portable as it used. to be yes yes but how you been man I've. been great man I've been really really. good I'm just thankful bro uh just. thankful to still be here right that's. the big thing um let's let's let's get. back to you know you did play in the. National Football League but I'm going. to go back to you to you uh your your. high school and growing up you grew up. in Flint yeah um when you were small. what what did you want to was football.

on the list did you want to be a. professional football player what did. you want to be growing up in Flint you. know uh coming up in Flint I always knew. I wanted to be an Entertainer okay um. because I came from the art thing I I. was an artist painting drawing okay uh. sketching uh I I my first scholarship. wasn't in football I had a scholarship. to Western Michigan University as an. artist okay and then I walked on to the. football team uh had that bug yeah. listen well this this the thing about.

football um and what was kind of crazy. with me is that football was a way out. of Flint Michigan I I I follow all the. greats there were there was Andre ryzen. there was Carl Banks uh there were the. people even just any kind of athletic I. Glenn rice went to Flynn I used to watch. Glenn play with Northwestern uh before. he went on to Michigan and went on to. the Lakers and became a superstar so I. knew Athletics was going to be my way. out right uh because no one was going to. pay me me to paint you know what I mean.

like I was airbrushing t-shirts and. doing all this stuff you get $500 maybe. you know what I'm saying uh but with I. with sports I knew I said this is going. to be my my way out I had friends that. were on ready for the world it was. either music of sports I couldn't sing. couldn't do anything thing uh and I said. well this is going to be my thing but. the big big thing about it is that for. me football was always a means but it. was never the end right um um which is.

wild because it took me years to figure. out I never really like football. wow you just have to be good at you were. good enough at it to get a you know to. walk on did you earn a scholarship I. earned a scholarship I walked on earned. a scholarship got drafted in the 11th. round uh to the Los Angeles Rams in 1991. then got cut later on and then went to. the Packers the Chargers Redskins Eagles. hopped all around because again it was.

my way to to it was the only way I saw. to make some money right but the big big. deal was is that and this is another. thing man we played at the same time we. did you were you you became Superstar. pro bowler the whole thing I always. thought well you know maybe it wasn't. for me but the real thing was is I I. realized is that because of this deep. down belief that I really I didn't. really like football that much I wasn't. really you liked it you I was studying.

it you see what I mean like there was a. thing where you had to go to a whole. another level to be at your level yes. and it was other things I wanted to do. there was just so many other interests. like it be i' be in practice and my mind. be going off on what I was going to be. doing afterward and what I was going to. do before and what I I and I have to say. this because it's funny my wife she she. was my wife was there the whole time and. we've been married 34 years okay congrat. she said you know baby maybe you wasn't.

that good and I said you're probably. right cuz but the thing is while you're. doing it you thinking I'm doing. everything I'm supposed to do but I. realized when I look back I didn't study. my plays enough I didn't do the little. little things because I had I had my. interest my Minds were always in another. place had you given football what you. given in Your Entertainment career do. you think you would have been better at. it absolutely absolutely but this it was.

too little too late right you know once. you start tooling around also how I came. in I came in on the in the 11th round so. it was it was 12 rounds back then it's. not like 12 rounds back people looking. now they like 11 rounds no no that's way. back uh you know which is basically a. glorified free Asian but I had some. people who belied in me I was a hustler. and this another thing too the I. couldn't catch I couldn't throw my. ability was the ability to take. tremendous amounts of pain right I was a.

special teamer I was that guy blow up. the wedge they even have a wedge anymore. okay but I was the guy that that would. they was like he's giving it up every. time and that would make me stick on the. team right but then when it came down. the play and doing thing it to being a. linebacker and hold a spe a specific. position I had to be and this is thing. it took years for me to realize that and. to come to grips with that because you. always like I know I was good enough. because my your own Pride right right. but then when you look back and you like.

man there were people that was just. better they just they were willing to do. more but then once I got in. entertainment I realized that's the key. that's what it was meant to be that's. the secret how supportive of was your. family when you growing up did they know. you wanted to be in the entertainment. because Flint is a very blue collar. hardworking normally you go to the. factories and that's what you do you. graduate high school you go to the. factories or you go to the military and. that's it so how supportive was your mom. and dad your family members with you. like I'm going to be Entertainer I'm. going to be in Hollywood I'm going to do.

this did they look at you like man you. out your mind yes first of all you got. to understand I I feel like uh I got to. go to the the the biblical story of. Joseph okay you know when he told his. brothers yeah you look hey one day y'all. all gonna bow down to me they was like. oh really and they sold it right um I. used to tell people what my dreams were. all the time I was like I want to be on. TV I want to do movies I want to make. movies I want to draw I want to do this. and they were looking at me like I was. from another planet they like hey man.

you in Flint right where what are you. talking about you are so far removed. from all that stuff and it kind of got. me in trouble a lot my mouth got me in. trouble uh uh you know back then and now. uh but I also realized it was one of. things. where you know I had big big dreams and. what was a big big thing for me is my. dad you know my father was alcoholic but. also he was was one of those guys that.

came up from Georgia little small town. Edison Georgia worked his way up got a. factory and and created a life for us. but at the same time he was a little. jealous uh I mean he looked y'all didn't. work as hard as I did y'all didn't do. the things that I did to get where I'm. from y' I really experienced life it was. one of them things and so he was always. kind of he never liked Sports my father. hated Sports he was always wanted me to. go to the Army my mother was super. religious. which at the time you know going to.

church I wasn't allowed to go to movies. I wasn't allowed to play sports I wasn't. allowed to dance I wasn't allowed to. listen to secular music everything I do. today I was not allowed to do when I was. a young man and so I didn't get to play. sports till later like ninth grade 10th. grade when they kind of when I koled. them and and they kind of got my mom got. out of the religious stuff a little bit. but it was it was really really strict. man and um and when I would start.

talking about that stuff they were like. we can't even go to the movies but you. talking about being in entertainment. right it was hard man it was real I felt. like a black sheep I felt like a guy. that was always kind of eyes in the. clouds I'm left-handed everybody else. was right-handed I'm I'm drawing. everybody's like outside playing they're. like hey man what is going on do you. think because normally the way kids are. with parents the more kid parents don't. want a kid to do something the more you. drive that kid towards that and because.

they didn't want you to play sports and. they didn't want you to they they. couldn't see your vision of being an. artist and being in Hollywood did that. drive the passion to make you want to. get to it even more absolutely. absolutely I mean I you know it's it's. it's kind of wild because I even I even. have problems you know with there's. family members and different things a. lot of guys counted me out even back. then um and now they're like oh okay you. did your thing and what whatever but.

it's it's it's one of them things where. you never forget that right you know. what I mean and you always felt I always. felt like I had something to prove and. that was the that was the part of the. reason I got into to football but then. also once I got in entertainment I knew. there was no way back like you got. understand when I moved out to I retired. from the NFL and moved to LA with my. wife we didn't know anybody we had to. start from scratch and I had my little. severance package from the NFL wasn't a.

lot of money I didn't L money very. little still very little right now so. don't feel bad it's not like it's it's. not like it's not like it's milons right. now trust me no damn it uh I thought. these guys getting paid now no I guess. not but you know I was a journeyman so. we I had to start from scratch man my. first job in La was sweeping. fluence and there was a point where I. thought you know and then everybody had. counted me out by then I mean even there. was family members that were like he had.

a chance he blew it right you know that. was the that was the consensus and it. was like well yeah to see I told you. this NFL thing did you have people to. say you know what man bro you in the NFL. and you gave that up to come do this yep. yep first of all but they were they were. looking at like why you keep getting cut. that was the other thing and they was. like obvious is not working out and they. was just you know it's one of the things. where you got a lot of people family. friends or so-called friends uh waiting. for you fail right and that's a big.

Drive yeah for me it was like I love. when you count me out you know it was. like one of them things where I got to. show everyone everyone my wife I one. thing my wife has always always been by. my side and there was one time when even. when she came to me and she was like. Terry look she said we hurting she said. we ain't got no money we starving we got. these two kids at the time she was. pregnant with my third and we have five. total yeah and so she was like what what.

are we going to do if we struggling like. this it's not working then when are we. goingon to go back are we gonna go back. I said we are never leaving I don't care. if it happens when we're 99 years old we. are never leaving La I promise you this. I said if we just continue to do this. because this is where I had kind of. learned the mistakes I had made in. football okay and I didn't have another. chance on football you know what I'm. saying it was kind of like man if I had. just studied a little bit more if I had.

worked a little bit harder if I had. really really done what I should have. been doing cuz that's the thing you tell. yourself you've been doing what you. should be doing but deep down you but. then you eat the cake and you hang out. and you do that and you stay up too late. and you don't go to bed you you you and. you totally mess your stuff up you show. up late for the for the job interview. and then be like they didn't want me. they they hated me like no no you showed. up late bro and I I totally had to be. honest with myself man stop marking off. things that I wasn't doing and I said.

okay I what I'm going to have to do and. this is the way I I framed everything. even when I was here in La I said. imagine what if I'm sweeping this floor. man you understand I'm I'm almost in. tears while I'm sweeping this floor. because I'm going dude my life may never. ever get back to where I cuz once you're. in the NFL you at least see it you see. the money you see the stuff you're like. man I'm there I can touch it and nice. car in the Jew oh you see the cars. pulling out the lot you see the jury you.

see the people living the life and and. the press and and then all of a sudden. but it's gone and it's gone right and I. said man look okay I said imagine if. someone was going to give me a million. dollars to sweep this. floor how would you sweep. it and this is these are this little. bitty mindsets that and I remember I was. like okay okay I have to imagine I'm. going to get a million dollars if I. sweep this floor correct cuz that was I. had to play these kind of games with my.

head in order to get over the depression. right and I remember sweeping and. sweeping and sweeping and all of a. sudden I forgot about my problems I. forgot about in fact I was doing. something about my situation and I. decided to do that about every menial. job that I ever had I I was filing. papers in the in the uh that fell over. in the V veterans uh at Veterans. Administration all the papers that fell. over in the North Ridge earthquake I'm. filing papers I'm doing this then I. started doing security for movie sets.

but it wasn't like you know bodyguard it. was literally I'm I'm standing outside. of the parking lot watching with a. flashlight watching but but what I said. is what if someone gave me a million. dollars to watch this parking lot I got. make sure I have my batteries and my. flashlight I iron my clothes I it was a. mindset that I said I'm going to reverse. that bad attitude I had in the league. that that that didn't get me where I. wanted I said now every job I have to. treat like that what's so crazy is that.

I started to do everything like that. right like every little it be it created. a habit in me that kept me going and all. so it didn't really matter what people. said I felt like I was getting this. imaginary reward right if I just did a. great job I literally if I just pleased. God that's all I had to do how but you. mentioned depress depression yeah. because here you are you had spent five. six years. years in the NFL and now you're sweeping.

a floor Y in a warehouse or a factory. and you're filing papers so how did that. mess with you mentally to know that you. had a chance and you saw everything all. your dreams could have been solved even. though it wasn't the path that you that. you really wanted to be on but a lot of. your things could have been solved had. you just did that yeah I well it was one. of them things where my wife literally. because the depression is real mhm when.

you quit football it's almost like the. military you you're trying to figure out. what else what am I now what how am I. going to continue this now and I have to. say this too and so many ball players. never figured it out. Shannon hey man I'm 55 I can count. almost 30 people that are dead from the. NFL that I played with they a even 30. people in my class at high school that.

passed away right but in the. NFL gone I mean people that I play. Junior say out uh just the other day. Frank Wier it blows my mind man I mean. people that I play with I'm sitting. there like wait Steve Hendrickson's gone. Kevin green is gone I was Kevin Green's. backup he's gone and it says there's. something to this and it's usually after. they retire and they go through this. mindset of what am I right now now and. you may never find it right and I I I.

thank God that I have my wife to help me. come back to life cuz she was like Terry. she said you are bigger than this you. you are more than this you have to. understand that this is p you are past. this now again there were times when I I. didn't believe her right but it was one. of the things where I got so depressed I. got out of shape and I remember my wife. came up behind me and this is this was a. life-changing moment man she came up. behind me and my back fat now I was.

always proud of how I looked you know. what I mean she and I said what you. doing what you you know it's okay you. know it's cute and I hey ain't nothing. back there she said oh it's back here I. said what in the what and I remember. saying. okay if I I could change my life if I. just go back to the gym like and this is. the thing man I hadn't worked out in a. year I was depressed I was tired I. walked in the gym and I told him I said. uh I want to work out here and I listen. I Ain never paid to work out nowhere and. they were like yo that's $25 a month I.

said $25 a month I said but no I'm going. to work out here and they said yeah $25. a month I remember going okay I put my. money down and I went in the gym and I. was so depressed I went in sat on the. machine read a magazine and went home I. said but I got to come back I said make. sure I come back 20 days 21 days and I. made a promise to myself just keep. coming back and do that turned into 30. something OD years man I'm right here.

like I never stopped that whole time but. that was a it's only what I have to say. is these things are are what I call. incremental it's it's not one big giant. thing for me it was always one little. message one little thing and you know. when I also when I moved out here I was. I started trying to get my thing on. animation because I was like I'm an. artist so I can show you my portfolio. and I have my portfolio in at Disney at. Dreamworks at at um Hannah Barbara all.

this stuff but then at the same time uh. handrawn animation went out the window. cuz Toy Story came out right so all of a. sudden they was giving me my my. portfolio back like that don't work and. then I got a chance to act and the rest. is history I did not know that that was. my destiny I had no idea I actually was. watching cu's car on the set of next. Friday. and I was watching watching with all.

these guys walk around this movie set as. a as a security guard and Q would walk. by every day and I watch his car I like. yes Mr Cube how are you Mr Cube he like. yeah yeah what's up man you know walk by. like just watch the car and and then all. the way to being in the next movie. Friday after next right which gave me my. shot which really blew me up which you. know just being close being it a lot of. times for me it was just being a just. showing up right and being open to it.

because here it is I didn't even know. this was my destiny right you know what. I mean I never told anybody that I. wanted to act I was trying to get like. be a filmmaker and do all this stuff but. it's it's unbelievable man when I see. that you know you I got a star on the. Walk of Fame and this stuff is still. still this is I'm the most grateful man. in this town man 100% when you tell your. kids and one day you're going to be able. to tell your grandkids I don't know how. old they are or even like bro I was in. the league I played against Barry played.

with Jackie Slater played with Kevin. green I played with some of the all-time. great players when you look back are you. in all because I remember when I first. got into the league and I saw all the. players that I had watched on television. from Jerry Rice to Joe Montana to. Lawrence Taylor and all these guys I'm. like wow you know one day even if I. don't have if I don't have a long career. I can say well man I was on the field. with this guy on the field with that guy. do you ever look back and think about. the journey that you went on through the. NFL uh all the time every day first of. all. this is the thing people always measure.

success by oh man this was the first. round pick he's big height he's the guy. and then and then you know what they. measure success from people who are good. to great right but to me the true true. measure of success has always been how. long your journey was right meaning it. was horrible to great right you know. what I mean I listen when I look at what. Fint Michigan is right now and I look at. where I came from and I look at the.

again the friends the people I came with. how they ended up and and how so many. people fell to the side I just go man. and I'm still here not only am I still. here I'm thriving I have to look at the. whole journey I got to look at how far I. came as opposed to oh man you know yeah. I'm good I'm here now and I want this. and then that but I realized man I am. one in a million right and this is where. the Gratitude come right when you during.

the season and because it's tough you. mentioned the teams that you play for. the Rams you play for the Packers you. play for the Washington um to get cut. during the season and you got to tell. your wife baby you know I got released. today and you know what so what was what. was she saying to you T baby we might. need to get this up can I tell you a. story this is crazy here I am 1995 I'm. on the Washington. Redskins uh there was a little bit there. was there was a time when you know you. they had the depth chart sitting up. there and the whole thing and it was.

right before the camp I mean right after. camp and they said congratulations you. made the team and you know it's Monday. of the week where you about to get ready. for the first game and I'm going oh my. God this is it this is it I'm I'm I tell. my wife we celebrate we went through the. cut down days and the whole weekend it's. Monday we go to practice I practice all. day my wife while I'm in practice she. checking my kids in the school because. we had to wait till I found out if I.

made the team right right this is. actually this is uh not 95 it was 96 and. here I am North Turner is the coach and. and I'm like I'm so happy we made it I. go to practice I go home I'm tired I. come home and they say hey man come back. up to Park and bring your. playbook wait I had sign my kids in the. school. I said but but I I went through the.

whole cutdown right. bro I said wait a minute y'all y'all. joking somebody playing with me like. they Monday we I'm preparing for the. week right brought my playbook up there. they said we're GNA let you go man on. that Tuesday which is the NFL day off. they brought another linebacker from. another team and I was sitting out there. the whole time and I was gone that level. of pain. and my wife is looking and she's like.

but I thought we made it. babe dude I get choked up thinking about. it right now man man my kids are like so. I can't go to this school I'm. like we GNA work something out dude I. sat the whole year didn't get picked up. tried to find ways to make it work. nothing D you talking about a level of. like and then and then I was stuck in. the city where I got cut from cuz you. can't just hop up and leave I I I'm. there with my family I like I'm moving.

with my parents right and so I'm. watching my play the friends are like. hey man yeah I'm calling hey guys what. y'all doing and they like uh we got a. game wow okay yeah I can't hang with. them no more so I'm lonely man and I'm. it's just me and my wife sitting in the. town waiting for what's next bro that. level of that's something that is never. really talked about that so many play. players because the sacrifice is you've.

been there for a whole year remember you. don't get your money to the game right. so I spent six months on $200 a week to. work out and just knowing just giving I. you you risk everything so you can make. it and so you can at least get that game. check right and I didn't get that was. that the was that the was Washington. your last stop it was I actually. Philadelphia Eagles was my last. because I went the whole season and got.

picked up right before Christmas for the. playoffs for the Eagles so I got to play. with that one last and they we played. the 49ers and got in a wild card game. and got sent out and that was it for me. that was it I mean I played that one. game got me a little money got that one. game check at the end of the season. right and a little playoff money that. was it was that the final straw was that. when you knew man this old for me I a't. I'm I'm I'm done the stress on your.

family you is one thing but you got wife. and kids to but wait I put her through. it one more time because I got a try out. with the. 49ers and I went I said we but you you. know you you chasing you Chas he man. it's like a drug it is it Absolut it. really is man it's one of them things. where you're like I I'm this close if I. just and man I went got a trial with the. 49ers and I remember this coach threw. the ball at me and for some that he he. was about me but you man he went I suck.

my hand up Bo and my my finger was. pointing downward and I was like yo and. I I I knew it was dislocated I popped it. back in it was swelled up like a sausage. and I fumbled around that tryy out man. that's when I knew it was over like when. I'm running around there and I'm going. what am I doing what am I doing this is. it I don't have it no more like I can't. I don't know if I can summon the. strength to go through this again you. know and that was it and then my wife.

because you got to this is now I got to. go back to all the way back to college. when I'm was dating my wife I told her. we were sitting at a Wendy's parking lot. we were sitting in the Wendy's had. little places in the front where we sit. there and I said look first I'm play in. the NFL then we gonna move to Hollywood. we gonna make. movies I made that promise you see cuz I. always talk right and that that's what. got on everybody's nerves okay was like. he talking again yeah but I told her I. said that's what we going to do we going.

to play an NFL then we going to move to. Hollywood make movies she was like okay. okay when I came home from that audition. from that from from that Tri out she. looked at me and she said remember when. you said we going to move to Hollywood. make movies you ready. wow yes you see that right there when I. talk about somebody who's down with you. she said remember when you said that. let's go man and I said you serious you.

serious she said let's go right we was. in a little town home that we had rented. from another player no furniture in it. just see trying to see what's next we. loaded everything in our truck I had an. old Nissan Pathfinder at the time we. loaded everything put our two girls in. the back and drove straight out to. California didn't know. anybody wow that's man I'm telling you. that's power what was it that she knew. you so well she had been with you for so.

long she saw you come. home not to make not to make it baby I. don't think I made it and to know it's. over yep it's time to transition into. that second part you know how you said. I'm gonna go play an NFL and then we. gonna go make movies well that first. part is over y let's close the door. let's open this door she was so gentle. with it like you know cuz again with me. you know going like I said put we we. lived out of suitcases man being packing. and moving and then and she be like.

honey I are you doing everything you. supposed to you I'm doing what I'm doing. I'm doing what I'm supposed to you know. did she ever tell you Terry I don't. think Terry I don't think you putting. your heart into it I don't think you. putting everything she she was gentle. with it she's like well should you be. shouldn't you be doing I noticed you not. you're not doing this kind of thing she. would always kind of be real with me and. I was like no I'm doing enough but but. again as male arrogance and the whole. thing and I'm the man of the family I. know I know what I'm doing she knew she.

was watching and but finally finally she. saw how broke I was after that 49er uh. try out she was like babe your other. dream you was you was mentally defeated. I was done dude like when I say done I. think she just saw it in my face like. everything in was like you know and this. is the this is the thing where most. players hit you know no matter how high. got right when it's time to go very few.

get some kind of parade you know what I. mean you get kind of kicked out you kind. of like all of a sudden you just. disappear the getting in is easy it's. the getting out that's hard it's hard. man especially when you don't leave on. your terms oh and how many ever get to. do that no Tom Brady might but Barry. Sanders did yeah that's where everybody. looked at him like what this man just. decided on his own right but it usually. it's injury usually it's cut usually. they want one more shot and they're not.

getting it right man that's some pain. man so if if the NFL ask you say well. Terry I mean you played in the league. what some of the advice and we got guys. and we need you to talk to some of these. rookies that's coming in about. transitioning from the game once it's. over what advice would you give some. some of the younger players knowing that. there's going to come a time and I know. you think because you're 21 and 22. you're going to play 50 years but you're. not what is some of the advice you would. give them about transition positioning. into a sec a post career the biggest.

thing is. humility humility it's really really. hard and this is what one. thing sweeping floors humbled me like. there's a breaking that you have to go. through um because there was a long time. I wouldn't do that right and I was like. I'm hey man you know I'm too proud for. this and and what what would everybody. think if they see me sweeping the floor. and my wife was like they don't know you. nobody knows your you wern't that. popular you know but but in my head.

right I'm this everybody knows me as. this and man man man let me tell you. something Shannon now I've been I've. been doing Hollywood for 20 something my. years and what blew me away is. perspective and this is what I want to. tell any young person coming up. perspective first of all I've been to. Korea Korea don't care nothing about the. nf NL they don't know anything about it. right I was looking for scores couldn't.

find them I went to South Africa looking. for the NFL scores they're like what are. you talking about it's rugby over here. bro I said okay I've been to Hong Kong I. don't care about no up out then I go to. Europe and I'm going okay well how about. it what what do y'all think about it. here they're like it's okay that's. interesting then I realized wait a. minute what in my head it's this. gigantic beast and it is in America.

right but I said the rest of the world. when I went to South America they don't. care I went to Brazil they don't care. about the NFL and I said dude you got to. understand it's a big big. world and there's so much out there that. for you and you have to find it you have. to find it and this is what I would tell. every every young man is that there's. something bigger than the league for you. right you have to find it though but but.

that's a hard belief whenever it's like. when everything and you spent your whole. life 247 being this thing and you have. to flip it and all of a sudden it means. nothing. anymore that's where the humility comes. in yeah because I think so many people. find the NFL is is who they are yep and. because it's who they are and not what. they did yes it's hard to separate. because you think no you're not this is. why again man this is why I'm so proud. of you I'm proud of Mike Stan I'm proud.

of players that have come out and have. literally realized wait a minute I'm. bigger than this wait man you bigger. than the game that's what I got I have. to tell this to every NFL player you are. bigger than the game the game needs you. not the other way around but you have. this belief because you mind gets played. with a lot right it's very I mean the. manipulation is real you know that's one. one of the things that that makes you. get NFL people been most of these.

players been manipulated since College. you know what I'm saying so you you. trained in that right and so when you. woke wake up and realize wait it's a. whole another world out here but a lot. of cats don't believe it right and this. is where I've seen cats commit suicide. by overeating or suicide by putting a. gun on themselves or suicide by by. drinking suicide by whatever I mean they. have the hardest times because they. think the whole world is thinking of. them as this and if you just switch it.

and turn it around it's a new future I. think it was a lot easier than what you. gave yourself credit for because. football wasn't what it is you liked it. you didn't love it right when you get. other people that they love it and. everything that they are their entire. fiber is NFL football or being an NFL. player and when that doesn't work out. they don't see the world that's their. world yeah yeah and everything that. comes along with it you're right I mean. that's that's is the.

problem the the biggest Advantage I had. was not being a. superstar that was my advantage right I. don't know if I'd be here if I had been. a superstar right if I had seen the. level that Junior seal has seen right I. don't know man I really don't I can. honestly say that that would have been. such a hard fall that I don't know if I. would have been able to survive it get. in on the action with draftking sports. book an official sports betting partner. of the NBA new customers who deposit $5.

or more can get no sweat bet up to. $1,000 back in bonus bets download the. draftking Sportsbook app now and use. code Shannon new customers can get a no. sweat bet up to $1,000 if your first bet. loses only on draftking sports book with. code Shannon the crown is yours you. mentioned that you told your wife. like you didn't want to do some of these. jobs because what if somebody sees me. and I hear that a lot and you hear. people like man I ain't working on. McDonald's such and they might see me I.

don't sweeping this it feels like there. it's beneath them y when sometimes you. know. hey they need all walks to do something. before you got to another level which. you said okay I got to sweep this floor. but I'm not going to sweep this floor. forever it's just a means to an end. right get me in the door and I'm going. to do something else so you're on the. set of Friday as a security guard that's. right you had mentioned that you had. never ever really told any body that you. wanted to do acting you wanted to be. behind the camera not in front of the.

camera and so when did your big break. come when did you get an opportunity you. know what was amazing I went I I had. friends in the business because doing. security I knew a lot of location. managers and the location managers would. hire to security and this location. manager became a friend of mine he said. hey man denel shooting down here in the. jungle it's a movie called training day. you want to come down and take a look I. was like I get to watch deselle do his. thing I'm like yeah man I'm coming I'm.

I'm walking I said when is it he said. man come on they they shooting all night. so he said come you got to come late. like 10 o'clock about 11 o'clock they'll. start the filming and whole thing and so. I'm down there in the jungle man and I'm. sitting there going oh and I'm watching. there's Denzel the car the whole that c. the sack the whole deal and I'm going oh. this is hot and I'm watching Delle get. ready he got the chain on he got the the. doag the whole thing is that the King. Kong scene this is the King Kong scene. bro now let me tell you this and this.

you got to understand how magical this. was man antoan puka the director saw me. standing. there and again I by this time remember. I went back I went back to the gym right. because I had been going back to the gym. about a year or so I was kind of still. in shape right he said hey man you want. to be in this scene I said I said yeah. he said hey man just take your shirt off. you got see your tank top I'll put you.

in the. scene bro I'm like never acted you. talking about no acting I stand there. I'm looking I'm like okay okay and I. just got that NFL man like like you know. you you about to come in you go you. facing off against somebody and and I. and I said just don't say nothing and. just mad doggy I said don't tell me and. that was it so Denzel's doing all this. and you see I'm just standing there the.

whole time like this I'm you and. dud it changed my life when you say like. that went to the Oscars bro like it was. me and Denzel when they showed that. scene on the Oscars my mother was like. you in the Oscars I said well I didn't. I'm not not at the Oscars but I'm in. this scene and I was like I was. hooked like when I say hooked cuz all I. had to do was just because remember man. I'm on the NFL field and my mind is. already going all right I was like this.

is what I always want to do I said man. now I'm in my element don't mess this up. right bro watching this and then I got a. chance to look at his script and his. script was on the car and he had written. the wages of sin is death on the top of. his script I was like he's stun and I. watched how he prepare and I was like. that's that's that level I have to get. to that's what I and and all of a sudden. there it was the acting thing and what. happened was Cube remembered me he's.

like yo man you're the security guard. because everybody Lov training day when. Training Day came out he said man we. doing another Friday I got a call from. the location man they say hey man cubes. people want to see. you I went in it was me Cat Williams. sitting next to each other in a little. bitty room and he was like man come on. in we got to this cuz tiny lisst didn't. want to do my good friend yeah God bless. the soul tiny list didn't want to do the. third one and they said we got a new.

character the guy Nam. Damon I was like and see you got to. understand too I had nothing to lose. right like when I say nothing to lose I. came in there like Craig and day day. just the I want to see you know I. had nothing I went back to Flint on them. I was like this is where I came these. are the cats I knew right and I came in. there man and officer Cube everybody. like a they like oh and then cat came in. just the audition and they said you in.

you in and right after next I listen I. saw Cube probably about a month ago and. I walked up to him man I said dude thank. you thank you said you have no idea how. many careers you started just by giving. us that shot right A lot of people never. ever really give props what props to do. you know cuz they like well I didn't get. that much money and but dude that was my. start listen I was man I was just.

thankful I was walking around and listen. and what was so crazy is me and cat cat. was homeless at the time wow so cat was. living in his trailer and me and Cat. said hey man and I remember talking to. cat I said cat I said we never get. another. opportunity we got to make sure they. remember us I said cuz we the two new. cats in this whole thing they know. everybody else I said but it's me and. you and remember man I was not gonna let. what happened in my football career.

happen to my entertainment career man. I'm listening that you tell the story T. and the way you telling the story. football never gave you the high that. what you got by just doing that exactly. I knew I was in my destiny when I say. and this is what I'm saying I found my. destiny I was gone people when people. see that scene in Friday after the next. look you turn the sound down it ain't a. comedy right we was crying right we were. deep they was so in it he was crying I.

was crying people were sitting by the. the monitors like what are we looking at. right now cuz I was so gone in and I. said this is where and then it was so. wild because I didn't even want money. anymore I said I want that feeling again. you know you know what I mean it's to. because you could talk about athletes. and money and all that stuff but there's. a point where I'm sure when you just. catching and doing everything right you. want to you want to chase that again. they call it the Zone they call it what.

what it's just blow whatever that is and. let me tell you you know when I hit that. blow again when I was doing white chicks. that movie White Chicks everything I. said just blow Friday up next White. Chicks came off of it came after that. right because again you talking about. the the the whole the black Hollywood is. very small and they and one Sprite after. next hit people were like this dude and.

so what was so great is Keen and Ary. Williams was like Hey man we got to get. this dude a shot right you know what I. mean cuz they like man we want some of. that on us and and it kept on all my. business Shannon in this town has been. repeat business I. mean the the reason I was with all these. Sandler movies uh Adam Sandler called me. but the thing is when I did Longest Yard. which was my on the NFL right me and. Michael Irving the whole movie I was.

like this is the one everybody going. remember like good God like who gets. that right you know what I mean and then. and I remember Chris Rock was like Hey. man he's on the movie longest yob he. said dude you killing I got something. for you I said what is it he I don't. worry about it I got something for you I. go home the script for Everybody Hates. Chris is literally on my. doorstep I open that up he's like I want. you to pay my dad cuz he saw me and my.

wife and my two kids out there all in. Santa Fe New Mexico when we was filming. Longest Yard he was watching and that's. the thing another people you got to. remember Everybody is watching. everybody's watching and so then I. played Chris's dad and everybody hat. Chris for four years straight this man. when I look at my life man I just think. I just thank God for every every. opportunity and now this is another. thing because I'm now reach the point.

because I play with all these guys and. they're gone now I'm losing. actors. man Andre barer passed away last. week and he took me under his wing man. you talking about one of the best actors. right of Our Generation right I mean. juliard trained absolutely incredible. Emy. awardwinning. dramatic Beast right Brooklyn 99 great.

Brooklyn 99 who was able to come and. flip it to a. comedy like that and I was like man what. is the secret and he never this is. nothing he was he was like a super. allpro who could have looked down on all. of us but decided he was just gonna pull. us all up with. him 61 years old he was like my big. brother right. I look at guys that are dying well I. look Michael Clark Duncan gone tiny.

liser gone uh Lance RIT gone I'm like. Chad Wick bosan gone we did a movie. Draft Day together okay and I'm going. man you don't have forever you don't you. got to go for it you got to get what you. what you are come to get now and you. can't waste time you can't treat it like. well I whatever tomorrow. I've seen it in in the NFL and everybody. thought this the thing everybody had.

determine certain people that already. won like I won life he won you know. people say he won the internet whatever. it ain't never over it's never how you. start it's how you finish right and let. me tell you when I'm done I and I'll be. honest with you man I'm just getting. started I truly truly feel I have the. same energy that I had when I first. started I'm really thankful to be. sitting here with you right now I but I. I admire you for it but just your. transition you know what I mean and the.

energy that you bring dude your passion. is palpable and I'm the same way I'm. 100% passion right that's all I am right. you know what I mean I don't know no. other way I have no other way I I do. everything like I'm getting a million. dollars when when you sat down for the. inter for you sat down for the audition. the read with cat did you know cat proud. of that nope not at all and you guys. became pretty cool out we became Amazing. Friends and was so crazy I used to watch. him cuz I was because we you know. remember a movie when you shoot a movie.

then you got to wait a year and a half. for it to come out correct so you just. wait like people you like man I got this. thing coming they're like yeah right. whatever and you know what's so funny. after Friday After Next I had to go back. to in security I had to go back right. because I didn't have nothing else turn. to right but I knew it was coming right. and well it what was so crazy I was do. commercials and different things but I. would go watch cat would at the. Hollywood Park Casino he had his own. room and this man was the funniest man I.

ever seen which was crazy and then I. never forget when he starts selling out. the universal Amphitheater and watching. him blow up it's this another thing too. to watch people all it's funny because I. seen kids that's been on set and now. they're Superstars now you know like. Tyler Jay Williams is now Superstar. right you know I've watched people this. is you never never know what's gonna. happen you know you look at things and. you go oh my God this this man was. listen one great example we were at the.

BET Awards and I saw this little kid. walking around with a little hat on and. I was like hey hey I got his mixtape I. said Kendrick Kendrick he's like you. know who I am it's Kendrick Lamar bro I. said man your mixtape dude section 80 is. is amazing I said you are the next I. said rebea this is kid this is Kendrick. she was he was like you know who I am I. said who I said I love you I said I. think you are going to be the future and. and what's so. crazy is that he called me a few years.

later ended up doing a video with him. right because he said remember when you. told me you knew who I was remember this. you told me I was going to be I was. going to be doing something. great look at this man now look tell me. he's not the best in the in in the world. right now and I'm so proud and the thing. is too man there another thing I had to. learn that the NFL taught me that I had. to. unlearn. competing I decided to never compete.

with people this was my problem because. what the this a they call it the sin of. comparison right when I'm looking at. what you got and comparing what I got. it's always going to be a problem yeah. always cuz you always GNA come up short. yes somebody always got more right and. then somebody always got less but you. always want more right and I realized. man that. creativity was the exact opposite of. competition right if I'm being creative.

I'm not competing so I decided you know. what because everybody was like hey man. you gotta you know you gotta be like. tiny you gotta be this you gota I was. like no no no no no no I'm gonna be me. I'm gonna be me and I was like yeah but. you kind of weird I said yeah I am. that's what make me unique I am all. right you listen first of all you can't. even it got to the point where you read. scripture now that that we want a Terry. Cruz type because they know that's. that's just me right and I decided by.

just being. creative that was my ticket out of that. world of competition because this is the. thing man the league is. always it's like hey man you versus so. and so you wait first of all you got to. fight the people in your own locker room. first yeah before you even go up against. another team you know what I mean and. then you always being in judged like. well you missed a step and uh uh uh did. you miss that but he didn't right the.

coaches would never they will always. tell you what you messed up on right and. then being black we would go into the. locker room and if you hurt they they. act like you act like you don't want to. play I'll say hey man first of all the. white kids getting hurt and they're like. H yeah yeah he's hurt right but I've. never ever treated they never ever. treated any black guy I knew in the. locker room like he was really hurt wow. like he was trying to cut out on the. game so in other words you said I got to. unlearn because you know it's a it's a. it's a jungle mentality because someone.

is literally trying to take food off. your table someone is trying to take a a. roof from over your kid and your family. head to make sure they have one but once. you got into the entertainment space. you're like I'm not competing against. him yeah yeah I mean what what can I do. my Lan first of all I I didn't go to. school that right I didn't go to juliard. right you talking to a dude who ain't. supposed to be here right everything I'm. getting ain't Ain I ain't supposed to. have right so I'm already behind right. you know what I mean but then I realize.

wait a minute if I just bring what I. bring I'm ahead you know what I mean if. I can if I bring what only I bring to a. project because you can't do what I do. right you know what I mean and this is. one thing that the magic and this is. what I want to tell every young man is. trying to transition out that's the way. it works for. everything that you have something that. no one else has but it's up to you to.

find it right you got to find it and. don't you don't find it by comparing. yourself with everybody else and. whatever you find it by finding out what. you want to do and this is when I had to. make the hard. realization that man maybe football was. NE it wasn't it just it wasn't for me. but it got me to where I am and I'm very. thankful for it but let me tell I love. the game in fact I don't even have a. team I just love the players. right sitting here with players talking. about you know what we came through it.

feels like a fraternity man it feels. like something we can we we can. therapize each other right you know what. I mean because we all know it we all. seen it right and we all played those. games together I I was there when they. was like ain't no CT sit down you just. weak right I like man my head hurt you. know what I mean I'm seeing double right. and they like man look you just. weak I was there when it was telling. everybody it wasn't it wasn't real right. you know what I'm saying I'm like no. this is real man this is real t t. obviously when you first starting out.

you don't make a lot of money how do you. get past because everybody thinks that. you're in the movie you make a million. dollar or you make $5 million and it's. and and the rades I mean you're first. starting out it ain't no big payday not. at all not at all you you get here's. your. $500 thank you very. much but that's the thing I I never did. it for the money remember I told you. when we was doing that Friday Friday. next right I was chasing that feeling of.

doing something of going so deep and. doing something so well it was like when. I was sweeping those floors you know. what I mean you you once you start that. you chase it and you realize there you I. could be excellent at this and I chase. excellence and what I found is that the. money will come right that's what's so. crazy but what problem is is when you. chase money money right if all of a. sudden because this is the thing and. this is what what blew me away I started.

to take job off my passion and what I. saw would further what I was trying to. do and I wouldn't take jobs by the money. and a lot I turned down a lot of money. making jobs that was terrible but there. was a lot of things that paid a little. bit amount of money but man took me to a. whole another level and by doing that by. not chasing the money man it's like it. it comes man the passion will pay for.

itself not white chick that's look. Damian was in Next Friday Friday After. Next was was unbelievable but it was. that movie where T Cruz all of a sudden. becomes a household name d Keenan Ivy W. Marlon W Shan W I owe them a debt. forever um that was one of the best. experiences I ever had in my life when I. say from beginning to. end hanging with them dudes the freedom.

that that family had it was like being. in the Jackson bro you know what I mean. like CU you don't listen I watched In. Living Color when I was I remember in. college all the way up and In Living. Color and old keen and Ivy Wayne is a. legend Y and I'm there he's like hey. Terry hey man do whatever you want man. you killing this do this I was like what. I could do what I like everything I said. so I could just and man when you hit. that level of freedom and the and the.

way brother this is thing about comedy. is that it opens up like there was the. phrase they used to the phrase they say. a lot of times is that you know there. the answer is never no the answer is yes. in comedy so if you if you got a. question the answer is yes I mean you go. you just keep taking it Taking It taking. it and that's what we did and bro I had. no idea about by the time we got done. and I remember that. Premiere and the producer looked at me.

he said hey man your life will never. ever be the same you got understand I. spent I was in like I said I learned my. lessons from football I remember being. in that room singing that song probably. 10,000 Times by myself by myself so that. when I got on the set that was one tape. I was so ready I had the head moves in I. had everything and it people were like. we never seen nothing cuz you got to. understand too and the rules in comedy.

at the time where muscles never funny. right that's not funny you got to be. brooded you got to be you know and. everybody was trying to tell me to be. take karate lessons because you had to. be you want to be an action star I was. like no no I want to be funny I want I. think I could make people laugh and they. were like but muscle not funny you too. big you got to get fat you got to get. chubby I was like no. nope I'm going to do everything I'm. doing and and I remember resisting what.

everybody was saying and people were. looking at me like I've never seen a. funny big dude before you know what I. mean and it changed the game did you. know when you're shooting that movie and. when you rap did you realize that we got. a classic we got a hit we have something. that's going to stand the testco time no. it's fart jokes no I'm sitting there he. I'm like man if the kids laugh I'm like. hey great right no no but now people are.

coming back like that's class man listen. my daughter okay she was a baby my. daughter is now 20 years old in college. she goes to college in San Diego they. sat over this summer sitting there. watching White Chicks she didn't say. anything she's like that's my dad like. she was a baby when it was when it was. came out she's in college like and all. her friends are sitting on the rooftop. Watching White Chicks the whole school. cracking up I'm like we didn't know.

right we didn't know but that's the. power of going all out cuz it Outlast. you you know what I'm saying the Legacy. Outlast you go all out you do not get. another shot you see what I mean like. really really enjoy don't uh because. this the thing too man I used to be a. complainer man I used to be one of them. cats oh well if it ain't perfect and. then. and man that's the thing when I start to. realize man what opportunities we have.

we got to take it right and um I'm just. so thankful right now I'm just like and. you know just to go on to have this kind. of career now I gotta even flip it to. AGT. because I told my agent and manager I. said look use me as a guinea pig I said. where I said where you would typically. see me don't give me those RS give give. me the roles that you would say there's. no way they were going to hire. him and I said that's what I want and.

they were like Terry that's a hard Road. I said yep I'm gonna take the Hard Road. and I'll never forget uh there was Who. Wants To Be A Millionaire which was a. daytime version Who Wants To Be A. Millionaire and and Cedric the. Entertainer didn't want to come back he. he was like moving on and they said. Terry they they talking that this is. open I said give it to me I said let me. go in let me audition let me take it cuz. I knew if I learned how to host right if. I learned how to get in front of that.

camera and show my personality and talk. to people interview people that could be. a change that that's a whole another. Revenue stream that's that's a whole. another level of of passion right so it. but it was horrible listen Who Wants To. Be A Millionaire the daytime version. nobody watching it okay I did. 360 episodes of that while I was doing. Brooklyn 99 and people were like why are. you doing this I would go back on set. they were like dude it's no one watching. this it's crazy then I did another show.

called world's funni as fails and it was. like terrible and nobody was watching it. and I was like it was on Fox it was one. of them silly shows and then I hosted TV. Land Awards I was like but I want to be. a host dude all of a sudden they got. spin-off for AGT and I get my. shot I said and now it's the biggest. talent show in the world bro and I've. been doing it strong going on six years. all the iterations we got a brand new.

fantasy league coming out we got the. regular AGT number one show of the. summer and wait and you gotta understand. I ain't a host I'm not that guy I came. in this thing but I I said. God give me the strength to learn new. skills and let me stay open and I and I. will stay humble and I will learn this. thing you know what I'm saying and it it. was a lot man but I look at I thank God. right now because now it I can go two or.

three ways right I'm looking at you a. white chick and some of the lines did. you did you just come up with these. lines or were they written it's like. once you go black you're going to need a. wheelchair I was written so so how much. lead weight did they give you oh no it. was a lot it was I mean this is the. thing like the dancing they probably let. you do your own yeah that was all me. that was all the dancing uh but you got. to understand a lot of this stuff was it. was um like the stuff between me and. Marlon it was like ohoo little lady you. sure can't put it away I mean that's.

that's me right this stuff we we but. they let you do it right and then the. editor comes in they'll worry about the. rest later but D we were coming up with. stuff off the head they were coming up. with stuff they had no idea and we had. no idea but we just knew we said man we. had such a blast doing that movie same. thing with longest y we D you had the. wrestlers you had the comedians you had. the football players I mean you had all. that together and and you had a classic. movie you know where I grew up watching.

The Bert Reynolds version the first one. you're like man this is one reason why I. even tried playing football in the first. place you're like and dude that's what. to me all I could say is that I've been. given more. opportunities I almost rephrase that I. seized more. opportunities because this the thing. giving you people give you charity. opportunities aren't really given right. you seize them right you you you grab it. it's like hunting it's like sitting in.

the forest there Liv there watching and. all of a sudden you see something that. you want and you see it but it and if. you go up to it it'll run away but you. got to grab it and I remember just. grabbing every little scene every little. thing I'll never forget getting an. opportunity on Expendables here I am man. Sylvester Stallone Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bruce Willis me. and wait I wasn't the first pick it was. supposed to be Wesley Snipes but Wesley.

had got down on on attack stuff and then. they went to Forest Whitaker and he. couldn't do it and then they said oh. well we got this guy Terry Cruz I was. like I'm here yo I'll take it I'll take. it hey man I didn't look at that as down. most of my stuff has been like man. somebody dropped out I'm taking it. seizing it and dude here I am in The. Expendables movie and they gave slide. give me that tunnel scene I'm blowing. people away boom boom boom boom boom. coming through that tunnel and people. flipping them up they in the theater.

jumping up and I'm going who gets this. who gets this like to make people laugh. to make people jump to make people I. I've been given more moments than. probably probably any other actor that I. know I work with it's C been on TV 20. years don't get those kind of moments. you know what I mean and that's where. I'm. like man and this is where again though. had I not been through all that stuff in. the NFL I wouldn't have learned what it.

took you understand what I'm saying I. wouldn't I probably would have got. complacent probably would have been like. yeah it's automatic and that's I've seen. people get there like yeah you know I. should have had that yesterday but I. never feel that way man I'm always. especially not that we're losing people. especially now being on the set of White. Chicks you get an opportunity you. mentioned earlier to work around Keenan. and I way and you saw what he did with. his Living Color did you really get an. opportunity to see his his comedic.

genius because you look at and Living. Color I don't know if we'll ever going. to see anything like that again never. never and it gave birth to so many great. to Jamie Fox the David Allen Greers The. Tommy Davidson the Jim Cary the Way's. Brothers I mean there's so many people. that launched their careers and became. what they became Jennifer Lopez JLo. became what she be became from that do. did did you get a sense like man this. dude is a genius yes but but this is the.

thing you got to understand the same. thing about the NFL when I walked in the. locker room in the NFL they don't want. you going oh you so and. so you you got to hit. him no you know what I mean like in the. lead you realize wait a minute man if I. don't hit you listen you on the. offensive side of the ball if was. opposite of you you don't want me going. oh man you sharing this sh right you run. me over right you want a challenge right.

you want bow I'm coming at you boom boom. boom that's exactly what these actors. want that's exactly what these comedians. want they don't want you to come in. there oh look man slice theone looking. like I want you to bring that heat when. you come we look at me like I did Denzel. and that in Training Day they don't want. me to be like oh wow you didn't tell. they want me looking at him like I'll. kill him if he step out of line right. cuz that's where everything is nobody.

wants it nobody wants you to lob you. know what I mean they want you to throw. it for real and that's exactly what the. way Keenan and the whole they they were. playing for ke and this is another thing. it's one reason why you can't do white. chicks too because comedy is dangerous. oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah it's. dangerous we at a different time now we. definitely a different time now but how. have you been able to steal scen you've. been in Malibu's Most Wanted you've been. to Deliver Us from Evil you've been in. Soul. Plane. how because it's not like you it's.

written that you're the star right of. the movie but you always find a way to. steal a scene and man man you remember. when T Cruz was singing man you remember. when he out on the floor and he drun. that drink and he out there dancing. you're always able to steal a scene even. though the movie isn't written around. you. passion I I I am I serve the actors I. serve the script I serve the audience.

and it's never about me and anytime you. see a movie and you bored it's about. that dude on the screen you ever I've. watched stuff and you're like oh man. this dude cast mailing in it's how good. am I going to look now I'm turning to. the left and I'm turning to the right he. like oh man whatever but when I'm. serving. because this is this is the key that's. what I had to tell my. son even about money I said you want to.

make money the key to making money is. serving the most amount of people the. more people you serve the more money you. make straight up I said look you want I. people always say athletes make so much. money doctors should make more money. than athletes but I'm like wait how many. how many patients you got how many. patients you got the doctor got 30. patients well you got 30 patient money. but how many people are enjoying. watching LeBron play true hundreds of.

millions so he gets hundreds of millions. of dollars I said dude that ain't don't. ever get it twisted you serve more. people you get more props you get more. money and I decided I was going to serve. more people in everything I did I. remember doing Malibu's Most Wanted and. I remember being on the set and I was. said I'm GNA play this character his. name is eightball but I'm G play him. like he's.

real and I started doing stuff and the. director was like hey he hey put the. camera on that dude right there and this. the thing and this is really tricky and. I gotta let everybody know this it can. get you in trouble because people go he. showing. out uhhuh why you trying to make us look. bad you know how many times I heard that. people always was like oh Mr overdo it. oh oh you going to sweep the whole. place okay. Mr and see and that's what you got to.

resist that's what you got to I I I. found a long time ago like whatever God. says about you and if you repeat it it. sounds very. narcissistic but whatever Satan says. about you and you repeat it it sounds. very. realistic and you have to. decide whoa am I going to be rich. or am I going to do what God Said like. do everything I can and this is and it's.

a tricky thing because you get tricked. into it you get oh yeah you showing out. but I realized no the best thing I can. do for the whole world is to make the. most of Terry Cruz best thing I can do. for everybody is work out two hours a. day that's it because all I do is work. on me best thing I can do for everybody. on that set study my lines know what I'm. doing be prepared be ready always always. focused best thing and all a sudden. nobody got to worry about you nobody.

worry about you this thing and then and. back in the NFL they had to worry about. me a little bit that's the lesson I. learned I said nope you ain't never got. to worry about me I'm coming I'm. watching I'm seeing and I'm focused and. and it's fun and then all of a sudden. you can have fun right you see what I'm. saying but boy just warning warning that. when you do that and that's the that's. one thing too I had to move on because I. had to realize I had a a message on my. message machine I said hey this is Terry.

Cruz I'm taking it to the next level and. I'm not going back leave a message and. all the people who was like where you. going where you going oh okay okay oh oh. not diates didn't get my new. number but I realized I said man I need. a new Circle and the circle that that. will get me there. has got to be the ones that are happy. I'm getting moved up here you know what. I mean and anybody that got crazy I mean.

it's funny cuz me and my father had a. lot of issues man I mean again he used. to beat my mom he used to all this crazy. stuff and then he call me up before I. get on AGT and cuss me out you ain't. nothing you ain't nothing and I remember. just going was it was he was he drinking. yeah and so he got like this when he was. drinking that's see that's it I mean is. that why you don't drink that's why I. don't drink that's why I don't drink I. my father get drunk and he beat up my.

mom that's earliest memory man watching. him knock my mud out so he call he calls. you up before you go on agtv and he say. and he's saying what is he saying to. cussing me out it's like you ain't. where did this came where did this come. from I don't know I don't. know it's one of them things where you. think you big stuff you and I'm going. one wow and it got to a time where I. actually had to change my number and I.

actually the only way I would. communicate with him was through someone. else just is he all right okay cool cool. but you but that stuff deep man. and it was easier to get rid of friends. that way where you go hey yeah yeah I. can move on or so called friends you. realize that's not a friend anymore but. it's a whole another thing when it's. like. right and my mom passed away a few years. ago so now it's just him but it's one of. those things where I realize what it is.

it's okay he's he's. jealous he's. angry and but that's okay have you and. he always had this contentious. relationship yeah y your earliest. memories earliest I remember we listen. we were driving he was driving me picked. me up from practice cuz he didn't want. to pick me up from practice he's like oh. man I'm wasting my time I got to go do. is cuz he didn't like sports and he said. you know uh I said now I'm going to make. it an NFL he said you you know only one.

in a million making in NFL only one in a. million I said I one in a. million I looked up dead in the car I. probably was. 12 I'm one in a. million was. like you got to understand I'll never. forget this these are moments make me. who I am and I said man and I remember. those conversations and I know that even.

even as I walk around this. town I am one in a million as you gotten. older have you ever tried to sit down. and have a conversation with your father. have you ever guys have thought about. going to therapy together and try to get. to the root you're 55 it's I mean I. understand you have a very contingent. relationship but you only get one y and. I know sometimes you probably think you. don't miss him because you have the. opportunity to pick up the phone and. call him but you know T there might be. one day that you don't have an.

opportunity to talk to him I don't I. don't and you know that might be I'll be. honest with you man that might be the. reason we sitting here. today just talking about this is making. me realize it's got to be we got to find. a way make this work we got to find a. way I mean and it's wild because I tried. I tried I call and then you know you. find out he's drinking because he a lie. you know I ain't drinking you know and.

then he but you know all the sign that. he is drinking all the signs you know. what I mean everything cuz he's a whole. different person when he's not right you. know so do you have brothers and sisters. yes I have older brother younger sister. and there's a guy that I was going in. between what's their relationship like. with your father or is it just you no. it's it's I mean yeah cuz he again but. like you say when drinking everybody was. there when he was beating my mother you. know what I mean so it it makes it very. very difficult and when she passed that.

was a really really hard time like. because that's the thing man it's almost. like why didn't like it should have been. you like you beating her and she just. internalized and all that she got sick. and it was it and it's like man you know. and but it's one of those things I think. if he was willing and we just got to. find out if he would be willing I have. to find out if he'd be willing to do. that so we could all sit down together. yeah have you ever had a conversation.

with him like Dad why you treat mom like. this why would you do why did you do. some of the things that you did you're. talking to uh now you're talking to a. person who would literally be like I. didn't this is what one thing he say I. didn't beat her that bad that bad bro. when you talking those kind of words. you're like man you know what are you. saying I didn't beat her that bad you. talking to his. son and he's never been able to. acknowledge that um and what happens.

this this is a problem man listen and. this is one thing I realized that if you. don't deal with these. things early or where are you where. you're at they Harden you know the Bible. talks about hardening your heart and. there's a point where you feel like well. I'm good no matter what and I never. wanted to get like that you got to. understand man I had to revamp my whole. relationship with my own wife 20 years. in I had to admit I had been unfaithful.

to her you know how wonderful I'm. telling you all stuff the great stuff. she did the whole thing that still. wasn't enough for me to be. faithful and I had to turn when you at. your lowest she was there you see and I. went man and I had to go because I was. gonna turn it was gonna be as whole. hardening of my heart. well finally realizing well you know it. was you because you got to understand. when when when you're in that mindset. it's like it's always somebody else it's.

always somebody else's problem not me. I'm. good. and I'll never forget we I knew I felt. like we was going to break up we had. just celebrated our 20th anniversary we. on 34 now wow but I knew I said I don't. I don't think we gonna make it but the. thing is there were things I never told. her you know there was there were. secrets that I was holding. stuff that I done that I never said. nothing about that she didn't know about. she didn't know but she suspected you. know they know she's.

like and finally she said this thing man. this what got me she got me she said. what is it I don't know about you Terry. Cruz and that you know sometimes you pop. a. spring she could have said that any. other day and it wouldn't have done it. and it. went and said tell her tell her cuz if. you don't tell her it's almost like God. told me he said I'll never be with you.

again you don't say that did you feel. like you if you didn't tell her at that. moment and she'd have found out. everything on her own it have been a. whole different ball game whole. different ball game whole different ball. game oh easy but that's the thing man. look look it's hi how is it work in the. court first of all you turn yourself. in if you admit guilt you. gety of the court but if they catch you. right if you talk about you take the tri.

you got to get the food you got to e the. heart and fin bam that man that Gap will. come down hard and I said this is what. happened obviously as you're explaining. you're telling her some of the. transgressions that you've had that she. didn't know she suspected and I'm sure. there are tears starting to float and. that's starting to break your heart. because she was there when no one else. was she knew you at your lowest and she. picked you up so you could be at your. highest and now you got to tell her babe.

I'm not the man that you thought I was. hey man there ain't no kind of. pain than hurting the one who love you. the. most that's a whole another level of. pain I mean you can you can be kind of. cruel to people you don't really care. about or whatever but somebody who's. always down who never disappointed you. was always and I look at my wife right. now and I'm. like wow I got to like you got to. understand man like knowing there was.

times I would come home and she be in. tears and I know it was because of me. you know what I mean and that hurts a. woman I mean that's to the core that and. I remember just going I have to do. anything and everything but but this is. this is the thing too I realized running. doesn't. help I wasn't going to run. anymore. and I said I just have to. acknowledge and I got to make. amends and now her whether she stayed.

with me or not that's up to her cuz and. this the thing that's why I never look. so you did what you did it actually. wasn't for her it was for you cuz it was. eating you yeah it was K it you you was. dying slowly inside yep yep oh yeah I. mean you're living a lie BR you know hey. man you know when you lying yes you know. what I mean you know when you telling. uhhuh uhuh and then all of a sudden it. just all come down I didn't want to live. in a lie anymore and. dude this is the thing man.

being what I like to call it is a whole. person because what happens is you have. a double life you literally like one way. this way one way that way man there a. and that's a whole another level of. stress when you got to be two people all. the time which which lie did I tell. right let me say I used to be like why. don't you believe me but the real. question I should have been asking was. why am I lying why you why aren't you. telling the. truth sh it dude and I'm listen some T.

when someone's with you for that long. they know you bro yeah you're basically. a teenager she done she done been your. late teens your 20s your early 30s right. we grew up together yeah but see this is. the thing she gave me all that time. because she always was suspicious she. was suspicious and she just sat in her. way like is he going to tell me oh just. she was always giving me the benefit. always sticking there anyway and dude.

but I have to say this the happy ending. is literally after that 20 year point. when we almost broke up we got closer. than ever and I mean the next 14 have. been beyond belief like because I'm a. whole person like ain't no lies ain't no. nothing it's like this is what it is and. that's the thing man it's like uh. uh I just want one thing I want. everybody to know about me is that I'm. not.

Hollywood and when I when you look at. the term Hollywood I want people to know. that I'm human this is one reason why I. say these things simply because you know. people go out and they like the whole. desire is to be looked at like oh you're. a superstar you're this and this you're. infallible no NOP nope people like man. you said some stuff that got bended me I. know. know man you man you hurt my feelings. when you've been in I totally understand. that's me I did that you know what I.

mean it was a lot of people mad at me. but different things different reasons. and I totally upped up when I should I. spoke and I should have shut. up and I look back and I. go. man I'm sorry A lot of times I have to. acknowledge that but a lot of times you. have to acknowledge that there some. people just not going to like you yeah. and understand that to MH and but I feel. human because this is another thing as a. football.

player you lose Humanity you become a. God and it always comes back to bite you. as a Entertainer the same way if people. put you on a high pedestal oh he's never. this hey man we are human right big time. right and that's why I want to always. keep out there Eddie Murphy wrote you in. nor. and you talk about you wanted to be a. comedic actor yeah there's no bigger one. than Eddie Murphy and he wrote you in.

nor bit can I tell you the story yes I. know we run out of time no we got time. bro I got invited over Eddie's house and. I said man but I I said but you ain't. Eddie to dud that invited me wasn't. Eddie I said man I don't know said no no. no no that's cool man Eddie say I can. bring some people around there I said. dude come on man I do not want to show. up at Edd's house and not supposed to be. there. so man I said but I had to you know he's. like no man Eddie is cool cool so we go. over to his house man and I'm like oh my.

God this place is the most palacial. thing I've ever seen I like I ain't. never seen I didn't know people live. like this I swear man it was at the. moment where you're like good God this. is one of the most giant people in the. world and he's there and people and. there food and everything and the Power. full of people and all thing and I'm. like but where's Eddie oh man I'm just. thinking Lord and Eddie's at the top of. the stairs and I went oh he looking over. the whole thing I'm like oh man and then. he comes right down the stairs looks me.

dead in the eye like and he ain't. looking at nobody else in the room he. looking at me I'm like oh damn it I I. knew I was supposed to be. here he looking at me like he said you. walk dead over to me man I'm going oh. I'm about to get kicked out of this. man's house he said t come here and I. will I follow him and we go to the. hallway he said hey man my brother's. writing this movie my brother Charlie he. said he's writing this movie called. Norbit man we got a roll We Roll just.

for. you man he said what you want you want. to be in this movie with. us I said holy C who gets this who gets. this. Shannon certainly. you there's there's billions and. billions of people on Earth okay and I. got that right you ain't got to tell me.

nothing I feel like that endorsement the. fact that he said we wrote this for. you cuz they recognized the passion that. I bring to every Ro they knew I wasn't. going to mail it in they knew I wasn't. going to complain they knew I was going. to come with it big Black Jack and I did. and I'm so thankful for it man the fact. that work with. Eddie and Charlie yeah Charlie and look. Charlie's gone good friend yeah good.

friend blows my mind you also were in. Soul playe with Mark with with uh with. Kevin Kevin that was one of the first. things and and this was kind of before. Kevin Hart became the Kart that we know. him as currently did you see this kind. of me meic meor meteoric rise for him. yes Kevin was a superstar but see you. got understand Soul play was the most. bootlegg movie of all time I was at the.

gas no no no wait wait I was at the gas. station and it was I was like man this. movie coming out in six month they like. hey man you did a good job in Soul play. I'm like huh huh I saw it last. night I said how you man I got at the. house man what you talking about I was. like I pumped my gas dude I went to. rasco it's sitting out there in front of. rasco I said how y'all get show man just. go go in there and get your waffles bro. don't bother me man I'm saying I I want. to be like man y'all can't be selling.

these. movies go get your waffle bro don't. don't be messing with me I was like all. right all right they s my movie outside. dude the streets love s play Love they. didn't pay a dime to see it. though it was awesome I love it it was. awesome hey man but the streets had it 6. months before it came out you know that. copy came straight from Technicolor. somebody in Technicolor it's like the. McDonald's scam you know McDonald's. Monopoly yes that somebody on the inside.

was giving it out yeah if somebody on. the inside sent that straight to the. street because they knew they could get. money on it right everybody made money. but Kevin and the producers of that M. but see now but think about it look what. Kevin is now right I mean you do voice. acting I mean boond dogs American Dad. Spider-Man Cloudy with a Chance of. Meatballs do you I mean because a lot of. people like say they like doing vce over. RADS do you like that love it love it. everything in fact uh oh man I don't.

know I can't even say it yet D it oh you. got something I know I know I'll tell. you after I'll tell you after but I love. it I love doing all this stuff man I. mean remember it's all entertainment you. got now now understand this I got to go. back to another thing when I started. people weren't doing like stars weren't. doing commercials right and they came I. remember getting this opportunity. because one guy fell out uh they had. hired some guy to do it and they said. well we had this Terry Cruz type guy why. don't we just ask chry Cruz if he would.

do it they presented me with the first. Old Spice commercial and I said hell. yeah yes hell yeah and I went in there. man and they was like you grew up wear. you grew up wearing those spice back and. everybody want everybody and look first. of all you got to understand it was kind. of like on the outs like old SPID was. they were thinking about changing it the. whole thing and all of a sudden it. became icon I said you can entertain.

with two minutes one second voice over. you can entertain I said my rule I have. no. rules and dude I did that whole campaign. for 10 years wow it changed the game. like all of a sudden you have major. stars now doing commercials and the. whole thing but I Old Spice changed game. they played all over the NFL that was. that was another thing that was kind of. like my revenge on the league because. you couldn't watch a game without seeing.

some crazy Terry crw Old Spice. commercial you know what I mean I don't. know if you have any horror stories but. Terry but uh Terence Howard said that he. was only played like $112,000 for doing. Hustle and Flow you have any horror. stories in which you felt that you. didn't get the proper compensation that. you deserve I first of all I and I. understand what Terence is saying but I. have never ever ever looked at whatever. money I got as a Horror Story M if I did. it I loved it right see but this is the.

problem I have a there's a saying I have. to say you can't nod yes and mean. no if I nod yes I looked at the terms. and say okay you gonna pay me four grand. for two days okay if I said okay I can't. come back later and be like ah I only. got four grand for that hey man that's. what you presented right so there it is. ain't no to me I'm not I'm not going. back on that and this keeps my heart.

always full of gratitude because once I. start to complain about any of that it. starts to mess with my legacy I didn't. get nothing for training day how about. that I didn't get a zero but it changed. my life forever you would didn't know. who I was if it wasn't for a no paying. job first of all it name somebody play. football for money when they start you. don't get no money right you play. football for free you play basketball.

for free then you get all the way to the. pros and you get the millions ain't no. other way bro there's nothing else wait. there's no way to hop skip and jump this. thing you see what I'm saying but that's. the thing people are trying to invent. ways to get right to the money but hey. man first of all nobody knew who I was. and I got my shot I got paid maybe four. grand on Friday After Next but that's. why I came up to Cuba and said thank you.

thank you that was a start that was a. start. now I make money. now you you've been a part of three. shows that did at least 100 episodes. Brooklyn 99 Are We There Yet Everybody. Hates Chris that's an extremely rough. feat that's for a single actor to have. three different shows to reach that very. rare but again I I love love love. working I love what I'm doing got just. did a movie with Dave Batista coming out. next year called the killer.

gang um so honored man like who gets. this dude I'm living you you talking to. a old football player you know that yeah. when I look at the Players I play with. and they just like man you killing it. man you like and I I got to take it but. again when I look at the fact that I. don't tomorrow's not promised man I. don't know if I'll be here tomorrow so. I'm going and I'm going to take it but. every one of those roles makes me better.

I learned on the Fly I didn't go to. school right so I learned by doing 100. episodes of show right you know you know. it's funny I'm on the road I'm on I. learn by acting so tohaa Arnold she'd be. sitting there and I was like man these. lines they're hard to learn he like man. I'm trying to learn these lines she said. Terry Terry sing them I said said what. are you talking about she said sing your. lines and you sing it you know how you. sing you memorize songs right she said. when you s when you talk it sing it and.

you remember. it see that's a seasoned actress telling. me the keys to the game and I'm ready to. receive it dude I said holy it changed. my life right and tashaa is one of the. most brilliant super has been acting. since she was a kid and she had all this. knowledge but but I'm open to it because. I'm like how do I do this and I have no. problem asking for help no. problem you turned down the Expendable.

four RS because of an assault and. because you refused to withdraw yeah the. petition of the civil suit was that. difficult for you or were you standing. on as they say not business but. principal it was it was totally it was. extremely difficult because I love those. guys man we did this together you know. Randy goou or do lunger and Professor. Salone I called him my dad in the. business he was like man you I'mma put. you in this thing and then when the. fourth one came I mean the producer told.

me you ain't gonna be in it if you don't. drop this case I said come on man I said. what kind of game are you playing now. remember I already been manipulated by. the NFL I never forget when I had to go. home on that Monday I had to bring back. my playbook right so you can get me rid. of me anytime you want you know what I. mean but this was my terms this is my. Barry ain't going back you know what I. mean this is me like no no I'm not gonna.

knob my head yes and mean no I mean no. this time right and I love those guys. man Jason Statum all of them and I hope. we can do something together in the. future and it ain't their fault you know. what I mean but there was just things I. have to say that's remember now like I. said I if if I'm doing it you got to. know I've already counted all the costs. all the costs and I've done many many. things for free but that meant more to.

me than the things I got paid more paid. a lot of money off how difficult was it. to come out because you said a holw exec. broke you yeah and that's not easy for a. man especially a man of your stature. right and then all of a sudden the. Fabrications of the stories that started. being fabricated about you did did you. think because you say anytime you come. out with something you've already you've. already calculated the risk and the cost. of whatever you're going to say or do y.

did you think you would get the kind of. blowback or the because I don't think a. whole lot of people believed you yeah I. I knew it was gonna be strange first of. all if it hadn't happened to me and I. heard it I'd have been like man what is. this dude talking about that's why I. never got mad I couldn't get mad at. people going man what are you doing man. big ass Terry Cruz right but see I'd. already been through probably eight. years of therapy me and my wife. rebuilding me understanding what true.

power was me understanding that it was. about how hard I you see you gotta. understand in the NFL road rage works. that works but in real life go to. jail real life hey man you do what you. did on NFL football field you do what. you did MMA you going you going to jail. straight straight to jail jail full a. cast that was like I ain't taking that. right and I realize because my wife made.

me promise she said Terry because she. you know I used to have hair trigger and. temper and be biting people and she was. like man what are you doing like we. gonna lose. everything you you can't do this you got. a son now and and son was my last one. that's my fifth she's said you wanna you. want to be able to show him you want to. be able to be there for him but you. acting like this and I realized. something and I said man there's much. more power in thinking your way out of.

situations than fighting your way out of. and this was this what blew me away it's. because my I I my wife was right there. and I remember we went home and I was. like this is I was like I can't. believe this she said Terry Terry he. said ain't a woman in your life ain't. been through that. okay wow and she said now what you. going to.

do he said cuz we can't fight our way. throughout this. stuff he said your daughter your mother. me been places where you just had to eat. it said right and I said you know what. go I said I'm going to do it the other. way I'm going Su him and she said there. you go and I'm going tell you how to do. it wow my wife was right there with me.

and she said you tell what happened and. you show people this could happen and I. remember I said hey man size ain't got. nothing to do with first of all if you. did it I mean look it's like saying I'm. too big to get. shot uh well you the perfect. side you see what I'm saying hey well if. the bullet hit yeah what I didn't I you.

know what I mean no I'm big I'm giant my. chest was so no that went right through. I'm standing there and it happened yeah. just if I acknowledge if I don't say. nothing that don't mean it didn't happen. correct so what does that mean but now I. said hold up hold. up if because they were telling me that. he could get away with it he could do. dud this my agency man like I paid y'all. millions of dollars man. millions and and of course I'm sitting. here going I'm on the black side of this. thing so I'm going yo wait a minute now.

would you be doing this to your white. clients I'm going uh I said so what is. going on why is this dude still there. and I said well they thought I was. trying to do some money like give me a. money grab what I said no no I said I. don't want no money but he got to go you. don't get to touch the CL. you don't get to do that and all of a. sudden they was like no he gets to say's. he's a partner I was. up all right we G and do I spent a half.

a million dollars of my own. money but how many women have that how. many people have that how many I was in. the position like I said how many I I. get to have that because I got that kind. of money but for me I would have spent a. million dollars to win one1. and I said then my wife and my wife was. like go ahead Terry she said this is how. you fight not with your fists but you.

think your way through this thing and. you know what it finally came up with it. and finally Adit because this the thing. when you do stuff like that you don't. Rob the biggest bank in the place you. rob a whole bunch of little ones and all. these people came out the woodwork man. that nobody knows about that joined my. case they like yeah he did this to me. too yeah he did this he was coming I. said this dud and all of a sudden they. were like uh hey Terry guess what we're.

gonna fire him and we're gonna give you. all your money back how about that I. like cool all the money that y'all took. here them fees I need that all that give. me my money back thank you and I moved. on but see but it remember it's not. about revenge it's about but this the. men and this one thing I want every man. out there to know is that you worth it. because you can discount yourself like. oh man was no thing ain't no thing but.

but this is the thing how I had to look. at myself I have a little picture of. myself I was 10 years old on my desk and. I said man what if somebody had messed. with that little kid what would you. do that's. you take care of you. take care of. you really don't let nobody treat that. little boy like he's. worthless cuz that little boy is man wow.

and that's the same thing I think every. man needs to understand who he really. really is and the thing is doesn't mean. beating people up doesn't mean swinging. a bat shooting up the place doesn't mean. driving a car through the center of the. thing it means hey man you can't do that. no standing up and taking your voice and. that's your story and I stood with all. and let me see I was inspired by all.

these women that came forward that was. like hey me too I got this happened to. me this happened to me and you know what. I cannot count the number of men that. came forward I was like man wrestlers. NFL players all this they was. like you know that happen I me and they. were coming out I would never tell. people to make their stuff public I. would never ever say but you got to tell. a counselor a friend somebody so that.

you can get past this and I was just in. the public eye and I had that skill and. ability deal with it in the public. because that's I'm always public how did. it make you feel that some prominent. people in our community may light of. your situation I understood it man you. got to know I'm from Flint man you know. first of all you grow up with. you in the hood you know about what's. wrong with you you know I mean you got a. big head that's big head Johnny right. you got big ears that's ears whatever. you know you know right it's like you.

grow up with you got to be tough right. that's the whole thing Trash Talk. whatever you get dunked on you don't. live it down I mean that's just the way. it was and I started to realize H well. they GNA talk. anyway so you know what I mean. so let me give him something to talk. about but I started to realize oh when I. had so many black people come forward. and say thank you thank.

you hey bro thank you for coming forward. and saying what happened right because. that happened to me man people pulling. me to the side and that's why I know I. was right I knew I said no this is a. problem I was coming to going to parties. going to Hollywood stuff man and people. pulling me to the side in. tears I just got to talk to somebody and. I'm. going listen man I and I knew when I. went in front of United States.

Congress and told that story in front of. con all those senators and the whole. thing I said this is a major problem and. I knew my purpose it was almost like it. transcended football Hollywood now I'm. in the government circles and I'm going. wow and if one person's life changed. because of that it was worth it you. caught a lot of criticism a lot of flack. a lot of heat with the Gabrielle situ. Gabrielle Union situation I think she.

was released from uh. AGT and it seemingly some of the tweets. that you said about uh uh black uh. communism I think something to that. effect um no uh what was what was the. terms black. Supremacy and. for the longest time it seemed like. black Twitter was on your side the black. society was on your side but it seemed. like when you didn't come to the defense. of Gabrielle it seems like it switched.

on you a little bit and then it was. tough because you your you know you on. an island yeah you're on an island how. were you able to get over that and then. have you talked to Gabrielle since then. yes yeah let me tell you I man that is. one of my biggest biggest. regrets um again I I apologize publicly. but I I up until this time I had never. had talked to her and and what this is. the thing man and the problem I had was.

getting on Twitter yeah and you can't. have a Nuance conversation this the. thing too not in what was it 180. characters back then 140 now it's 280. but you still can't and this is another. thing you can't do anything. angry and I got angry right I people was. talking you know the internet talks they. talk joke they talk about my wife they. talk about my kids and I got mad and. then you start tweet angry tweeting is.

like it's just like road. rage and it wasn't smart and let me tell. you a beautiful story and I think this. this is going to sum it all up and I'm I. hope I really really. hope and and. pray that everyone understands because. this is what such a beautiful thing two. years ago um my wife and I were. celebrating our anniversary at a um it. was at a music festival Robert Glasper.

and all these guys and and we s up there. and Dwayne Wade and Gabby come. in and now I I didn't know they were. there uh but my wife was looking behind. me she's like honey honey and I'm like I. look and I said oh man and I knew I said. because I had apologized publicly but we. had never talked personally now I knew. through therapy is one of those things. that you got you have to wait to be. invited into people's circles you know.

especially if there was anything. wrong man Dwayne way comes up to me and. I get this tap on my. shoulder dude it was the most beautiful. thing ever I turn around he say what's. up black man what's up so I see another. black king here I just want to. acknowledge. you he G me a hug. wow hey man I'm broke I'm sitting here.

going now anybody could have been like. man bump this dude I'm out. here I said Wayne I said man can I talk. to you and your wife together he said. man come over. here Shannon. it was. me gabby Rebecca and. Dwayne just us for no internet no.

nothing and I went right over and I said. I am sorry Gabriel because there's. things I didn't know I'm speaking. because I'm speaking angry I'm but there. was so much to the story that I didn't. even fully. understand and I I screwed that up M and. then the internet got involved and then. it it was horrifying and my wife this is. another thing my wife was telling me not. to to say anything no don't don't don't. but I'm I'm I'm Terry Cruz this is where.

you get arrogant this is where you get. prideful and I was wrong I was wrong and. I apologize to her face again I gabri. please please accept this apology and D. she did she gave me the biggest. hug hug my wife dud we ate with them we. had lunch with them enjoyed this music. and I'm sitting here like who gets.

this man Dwayne and Gabby I got nothing. but the utmost. respect because if anybody could have B. just been like N I ain't got nothing to. say to them but I said what a mve like. man that was that. transcended what I. call it was it was from Heaven man it. was like a whole another thing and the.

level of humility that it. took for him to come over and just be. like give me that love like that man I. there will forever. be I I'm in admiration I'm in awe of him. and her and I'm just thankful I'm. thankful to call them friends. and I'm thankful that they gave me the. shot to say that I apologize to their. face without the internet without all. this junk and it was hard man that whole.

time yeah because there's a lot of. tweets going on black lives matters we. got to make sure black lives are are. better or things of that uh so it kind. of morphed you were like angry that. people were saying these sh and it kind. of morphed into something it's you can't. and this another thing man it's just. that you know. all things you know I had to learn to. shut up right a the hot take I don't. need you don't need to give a hot take. right there's no hot takes on everything.

you know you reach a point where you. okay I'm in the public eye time for me. to issue a statement right you know huh. no no in fact don't say anything right. and one let me tell you man just like I. learned in. NFL how to to really really work. hard with this thing I had to learn how. to be. quiet how to you out of your league here. you know what I mean this is too complex.

right a conversation there's too much. Nuance here for you to wrap it up in the. tweet no you know what I mean it's too. much too much pain involved and I heard. a lot of people I heard a lot of people. with that and it's again it's one of. those things where I I apologize but I. have to say I'm. like I know in my. heart why CU I was angry right and you. can't speak out of anger you hurt me too.

t when you tried to boycott Magic. City oh I was getting on everybody. nerves back you at the Clos of that try. to boy I'm be on the other side he about. close it down open it up open it up. that now that was my porn problem you. know what I mean I've been very vocal. about that uh but that was me you know. what man. again you.

know what can I say man and again. there's people who hate my gutes day I. totally understand you ever been in the. magic oh yeah yeah we playing you were. close the DI after you know got your. people no I've been. there I mean when I was in the leag. that's the first stop in Atlanta man. they be like okay we going you know what. I mean uh I again man my thing is I. just I got to shut.

up uh and I even my wife was like you. need to be quiet I said you know I think. I. do and over the last couple. years I've been learning the problem is. I was too quick with. statements and my my ears weren't open. and I needed to listen mhm and that's. what I've been doing now I just tell the. story My Own Story my personal stories.

and I just been quick to. listen that's where I'm at this car and. people uh I've noticed this yeah explain. the story how that happened I was two. years old in the hood and my mother we. was in a little tow up tow up spot and I. put an extension cord in my M and it. exploded this is actually repaired right. I had a huge keid on my lip when I was a. kid and all the pictures with me as a.

kid and I had it taken out when I was in. high school and repaired a little bit. but it's almost um it's my reminder of I. should have died you know I was shocked. but not electrocuted than God but at two. years old that could have been that. could have been horrible obviously L. growing up with that you know when you. grow up like we grow up kids are going. to make light of anything if you the. slightest in any shape form or manner. it's going to become a joke oh yeah I.

was called electric. lip they was like electric lip o. electric Li they been a whole little. thing so how so how was it how was your. upbringing you were you bullied a lot. because I I read where you like the way. you talk is not typical for Flint yeah. and so they like you trying to be white. yeah I mean you got to understand I'm an. artist and I'm walking through cats from. the gang members the drug dealers it's.

80s right okay ' 80s flip Michigan which. is crazy right now because the bories. are dying and people went straight into. the drug game so it was about you know. you had to look cool you had to have. your troop suit you had to had a certain. you had a Jordan z w and so I had a. portfolio and I'm like uh uh uh. and anytime you talked about wanting. because again I talk a lot and they were. like you want to be white you want to be.

if if I talk riches talk about I want to. be rich and I want uhuh yeah yeah you. want to be white and that was that was. kind of hard because you know I had to. hide a lot of my talent you know I had. to hide I had to be a man I don't know. what y'all talking about man I that's. what Friday after the next came from I. was just jumped into one of them and. that attitude and that whole thing. people are like man I a he ain't even. like that people who knew me right but. nobody who knew me they like oh man I.

was scared of Damon for years but the. thing was is that that's I had to what. they. call what do they call it. um signal what is it I forget it's like. uh you switch code the code switch I had. to code switch in order to to make it. you know what I mean cuz I actually I. was just very sheltered mom religious. father hat Sports whole thing and I they. just make it home right but then you. going through the hood on the way home.

and Flint was going through everything. so it got really. crazy you tell the story or read the. story that when you were five you tried. to kiss your dad on the cheek to tell. him you love him because that's. seemingly as a young young boy that's. what you wanted you wanted to hear your. father tell you he loved you yeah so. since he never told you you were going. to tell him and you said he looked at. you looked at me like I had an eye in.

the middle of my. forehead and I remember he was he was. still drunk and I remember kissing him. on the cheek and I was just waiting for. this like I love you son I was like I. love you Dad but he looked at me. like and I'll never I I'll never do that. again. I'll never do that again and it kind of. became where I knew that's where we were. going to be you know what I mean that's. where our relationship kind of even at. five you didn't even at the the right.

age of five you didn't see your. relationship progressing any further. than what it was at that moment even as. you reach your teenage years your 20s. forever how long he was on Earth and you. continue to grow as a young man well. this is the thing. man being not vulnerable hurt yeah cuz I. was vulnerable at that. moment and I. realized that even as an actor my whole.

thing is showing vulnerability you know. what I mean you don't see a a character. until You're vulnerable right and the. fact that the all the stuff I've been. going through is a response to that go. ahead I'll tell people that I got. molested that's that's showing. vulnerability where the whole thing was. you know you got to be you got to be. hard you got you can't never let them. see you sweat you never you you know. that's weak that's weak but I realize. vulnerability and strength yeah you know.

yes fact is I'm me I listen I I hurt you. man you step on my toe it hurt you shoot. me it hurts right you know what there. times I cry I'm shot I cried a couple. times while we doing this interview. right you know what I mean and there's a. lot of things that hurt and it's first. of all tainment itself is how we deal. with. pain sometimes you lie sometimes you cry. but that's how we dealing with it you. know mean you need to see a funny movie.

to deal with your pain you need to see a. drama so recognize your pain you know. that's why you put on a slow jam you. know I mean something that you you got. to feel it you lost her you know what I. mean she was gone she's gone and you got. to feel it this these things this is. what entertainment is about. out and if you can't show vulnerability. you can't be you can't be in this game. not here and I realize I I was gonna. have a problem if I couldn't so I said.

I'm G just be that dude and let the. chips fall I read the story and I always. wanted to ask you this because it takes. a special type of per it takes a for a a. son to actually fight his father because. the Dy the thing I've always told my. kids. I say our Dynamic will never change I'm. always going to be your dad you're. always going to be my child I said and I. never want you to put me in a situation. where I view you as anything other than.

that yeah and so we've always maintained. the relationship in that aspect I'm the. father I'm they're the child there's a. respect level on both sides as they. reached adulthood yes for you to go to. that level because to fight your dad you. no longer view him as your dad you view. him as someone on the street that at. this. moment I don't care that was The Darkest. Day Darkest Day you got to understand. the context of that situation is he had.

just hit my mother and I'm going in. front of you in front well no he had hit. I wasn't there but the whole I got a. phone call okay and oh your daddy just. hit your mama oh now I'm a grown ass man. post NFL I already played the league. like hey man what you 245 yeah yeah yeah. yeah okay right you talking to a 5year. old boy right I'm like bro what and and. see this the thing too I had already.

called I said hey man don't trip don't. trip my kids ain't never been around. this they ain't never had no nothing. like this so just act right you know. holidays hard right right right just be. on your best behavior with the kids. please just please and dude he hit her. knocked her two sideways like it was. crooked. hit her dead in the mouth she. bleeding I said didn't I tell you no bro. everything came out of that one time it.

wasn't that I didn't see you as my. father anymore it was you that I'm five. and you're that dude that I was so. scared of and I gotta get rid of this. right now now you gonna get what you've. been giving up 25 years but listen man I. did it and. at horrible wait I beat his ass and I. felt nothing I was thought I was going. to feel oh this is great this is great. this is wonderful now finally it's all.

straight felt worse cuz now I just beat. up the man that brought me into this. world right huh huh see the thing all. this stuff that people think go the road. ra jump out the car shoot the guy shoot. him how you feel now. oops ain't never been in one of them. moments where it's like. oops damn I went too far I didn't I. shouldn't have done that how many times. we got to say that right I've done it.

I've done it too. far what did he say after after that. moment Wesley was done what what did he. say to you how did he how did he look at. you because it's not so much what he. said to it's the look that he gave you. bro I wouldn't even look. out that's that's F I didn't want to. look at him I was ashamed I was ashamed. a man is never meant to attack his. parents no it's it's just not it's just. does not supposed to exist but let me.

tell you we did have a great moment. about 10 years later because I I left. and never came back for a long long. time we did have a moment because I said. and this is during my therapy sessions. and I called my father up and I said you. know I I need to talk to you because I. need to find one thing that I'm. thankful for you for and I said I'm.

thankful for you for having me because. if you didn't have me I wouldn't. exist I said thank you for being my. father and that was you just had to. findy one thing it wasn't all just hey. man waser for you I would never be it. mhm thank you he cried he. apologized he said he was sorry and I. never had that then I I flew home and we.

hugged it out and I was like maybe on A. New Path maybe on A New Path and I left. and he slowly started getting back you. know back Harden again but I'll never. forget that's why I know there's a way. right there is a way just why you. talking about this today sitting down if. he's willing I'm going to see I'm going. to see if he's willing to try this one. more time because we all running out of. time you mentioned their wife staying.

together after there's some infidelity. on your part do you believe your wife. you guys would have be as close as you. are now without. that uh first of. all we were on our way to break it up I. mean 20 years in it was it was. that's why I always I can I can totally. understand men that are divorced and. I'll be real that ball was on the fence. it could have went this way that way did. you start to become succumb to the.

temptation of Hollywood yeah oh yeah I. mean first of all I had nobody was. telling me everybody was telling me I. was. great man oh man don't worry about that. man oh she tripping you know I mean. anybody I was like oh really they like. oh man look look but look at you got. money you got this is you what more she. want see notice that's people who who. don't live with her who ain't nowhere in. your circle man she tripping and I'm. going and you listen to that but I.

wasn't hearing her right and I wasn't. hearing her heart and the thing is is. that the deal. is can she have. secrets would I accept that you see what. I'm saying see just flip the script. right that's all you got to do I tell. man it's so crazy for me it was one of. them things where I had to just flip it. for a minute and go I'm not being fair. to her because she don't know the real.

me and know thing is I always felt like. if she found out the real me she'd. leave and in a way it was kind of like. see see yep now you know real me and now. you want to leave and she was like No No. in fact I want to stay but I gotta. go I gotta. go. oh this is wow and then I started to go. to therapy yeah now I'm coming out of.

football they telling me all this stuff. I'm like this ain't me this crazy this. and I realized yo it was me it was me. bro lots of this stuff. and she decided she said you know what. I'm going to work it out right and I. told her I said I understand if you. didn't but I'm I said I am a new man and.

I'm G show you the man that you thought. you were marry I'm the him now yep and I. spent the last 14 years doing that and. we closer to nothing I read you had to. pwn your ring your wedding band several. times you had friends and I that happens. a lot because everybody has advice on. what you should be doing that's not. married you got friends that not man man. if I had all that money that F I ain't. going to be listening to that. what she got a nice car got a big home. yada yada y bro but you're not married I.

ain't taking advice from somebody that's. hanging out every night because we in. two different places right it's amazing. how people who ain't where you at got. all the advice in the world until now. now when you get there they go wait wait. whoa wait that no I got to go home I got. to go I got to go home come on man. but you talking about when I was married. and you were you wanted to go kick you. see what I mean look look all right hey. I first of all I just realized more than. ever and this is thing too because again.

55 is different than 25 absolutely you. know I've lived long enough to see. people get it win it lose it and you go. damn oo you start to see the results you. know what I mean this man we call win is. way too early shanon yes everybody he. won he won uh wait a minute wait a. minute you give it just two two more. years and we'll see wait give it 10 more. years give it 15 more years I want again.

it's not how you start it's how you. finish and I said man first of. all you can be an adult. Prodigy think about it everybody think. about a prodigy as just a kid that knows. all the math and and they go that's the. kid no it's the cat that's 60 70 right. that's like now I know and but but. wisdom and like that is not really. valued in our society so you got to be.

18 right you know what I mean your wife. color is always a source is a subject. that's brought. up for the record she's black correct. she's black yes Black Mama White. Daddy and been raised like that but. again just cuz she don't have that kind. of look right but her mom is black she's. from Gary Indiana bro my wife is was. Miss Gary Indiana. 1984 and and the Gary Indiana is Like.

Flint yes ain't nothing but black. people and she was raised in Black. Culture right see what I'm saying so it. wasn't like she was raised in the. outskirts how has she been able to deal. with that for the better part of 40. years since she's met you how have you. been able to deal with that cuz I know. you hear it all the time I bet you know. she's he got a little money he go get. him a white woman right right but but. she knows that and that's the thing we. got to understand even in Gary they knew.

the problem is in Gary they knew she was. black right because they saw her mama. right and Mama go to school and they go. oh yeah and she got black friends. but when she go we go to a new town. they're like oh sheit white woman I like. no no she she's Obama right okay but but. but she's also we also have dealt with. that I I'm I'm just saying it's one of. them things where we went to join a. church down here and and people thought. oh he his white woman gonna bring this. white woman in this church I was like. but if you got that attitude that might.

not be the church we want to get into. you know what I mean but we already used. to it um we have nothing to prove and. this another thing and this is what I. admire about her is. that it never bothered her she was like. I love black people and even if some of. them feel that I'm white he said I. understand. it wow and it's deep to me and that's. the way I had to start.

thinking because I would get get angry. absolutely but to watch her the way she. dealt with things peacefully. like I'm not going to go there you know. what that's the trauma that they had to. deal with and understand. I understand it and I go wow we said but. I love them anyway I love that I'm going. to get you out of here on this. AGT you've been at this for a minute now. and you're great at it yeah.

and do you see more movies more. TV because it seems like you got a. fairly I mean obviously I know how. television work you probably shoot two. or three months out of the year you rap. it and then you got an opportunity to do. whatever you needed to do for. till movie wise yeah I got a big big. movie called The Killers game coming out. next year me Dave. batisa um Sophia patella I'm a bad boy.

at this I can't wait assassin right um. but you know the whole business is. changing you know I remember when you. know right now there's only like three. movies in the theater right now I. remember there used to be 10 correct 20. now. streaming things and all this you know I. are you okay with that I'm I'm okay with. it no first of all the new new stuff. it's new so don't I'm like Quincy Jones. don't get mad on new stuff let's let's. keep going you know what I'm saying hey.

he did Frank Sinatra he said come on. Michael Jackson and whoever Tevin. Campbell let's keep going I'm that dude. okay uh I love doing what I do and a lot. of time but see it's kind of wild. because the business is changing so. fast and the thing is I want to keep up. if we was doing everything on YouTube. let's do it look the NFL is on YouTube. bro it is ain't that like that's. Unthinkable Amazon. Unthinkable on Netflix too listen don't.

hate on it I don't hate on nothing but I. still am Entertainer I'm still doing. movies I'm still doing TV I'm still. acting I'm still hosting my thing is to. create five six way gos for me because I. know One path is going to be it's going. to get me through the other things so I. can keep keep going right I thank God. every I just did u a thing for The. Walking Dead last year we shot it in. Atlanta and uh so I'm still acting I'm. still doing all that stuff man it's just.

again I wish we could do white chicks. too I wish we. could I don't know I don't know if that. kind. know like you said different day bro. different day so now I got to flow with. with what's happening now yeah you. remember when we were growing up the. sitcoms All in the Family and the. Jefferson and the things that they say. it that ainat that that ain't. flat you like oh they would never they. said that yeah they would never but now. you know that's why I did a I did a. pilot for CBS last year didn't get. picked up uh but then the strike.

happened yeah so we'll see what happens. like you know the to's coming back so. we'll see what happens now but hey man I. want to say this though and I really. really want to thank you for letting me. tell that story about Dwayne and. Gabrielle thank you because I love them. and they showed me a whole another level. of. kindness that I didn't deserve I'll be. honest with you and I'm thankful for.

them. and it was so wild man I gave them the. biggest hug and I just said. man thank you you know and just to tell. that story and be able to tell it in the. right context cuz I know you sat down. here with Dwayne. you know I got but love for Gabrielle. but love me andca thanks for stopping by. Club sh Shay J Cruz ladies and gentlemen. thank you.

oh thank you all my life grinding all my. life sacrifice hustle P the price want a. slice got the roll of dice that's why. all my life I've been grinding all my. life all my life been grinding all my. life sacrifice Hustle P the price want a. slice like the roll of dice that's why. all my life I've been grinding all my. [Music]. life.