Xavier Smalls is facing backlash for a resurfaced Instagram Live, which streamed back in February, where he called LGBTQ+ people an “abomination” in response to a comment asking if LGBTQ+ people were going to hell.
“That goes for other sinners. Scoffers, mockers, liars, all things that are an abomination. It’s not just the LGBT. If you’re drunk, if you’re an alcoholic, if you’re a murderer, these are all sins that God doesn’t tolerate,” he said in the livestream.
As mentioned above, this triggered backlash, with many pointing out that the actor himself was playing an LGBTQ+ person in Beauty and Black.
Now the actor has issued an apology for his comments about LGBTQ+ people. In a statement posted on his official Instagram on March 22, 2026, the actor said he had taken time to listen and now understood that his earlier comment lacked love and awareness, among other qualities.
He went on to say that people close to him had since then made him understand how his words could harm people and how truly hurtful the words were:
“Since the resurfacing of that clip, some very smart people who care greatly about me have helped me truly understand how hurtful my words were and the damage they could create. They shared their perspective with me and corrected me in love. They did not condemn me but instead helped me gain greater insight and understanding.”
Xavier Smalls then added that he had been made aware of things such as gay teen suicide rates and how people from the LGBTQ+ community are bullied even now across parts of the world.
Smalls went on to say that his words were not meant to condemn anyone, that everyone is deserving of dignity, before going on to acknowledge his accountability for his words. At the end of his statement, he reiterated his apology:
“I am truly sorry for any pain or hurt that my words caused. Please do not let anyone make you feel less than, including me. I will do better. Love, Xavier.”
Neither Netflix nor Tyler Perry has responded to Xavier Smalls original comments or his new apology for those comments as of the writing of this article.
A brief overview of Xavier Smalls’ career and life
As mentioned above, Xavier Smalls is an actor in Tyler Perry’s series Beauty and Black. He plays the role of Angel, who is still around in Season 2 of the show. Angel and Kimmie are friends. In season 2, Angel survives a hit on him put on by another character, Horace, by faking his death.
Aside from Beauty and Black, Smalls also played Zavier in the comedy film Madea’s Destination Wedding. He has also worked in theatre in productions of Pipeline (Celebration Arts) and She Kills Monsters. Xavier Smalls has also acted in two short films, Shelf Life and Picture Perfect.
Smalls was born in Los Angeles in 1997 and attended Sacramento State University. He then moved to New York to work with the William Esper Studio, before landing the role for the aforementioned short film Shelf Life.
Xavier Smalls is married to Vanessa Martinez, a makeup artist. The duo got married in 2024, and have two children, a daughter and a son, with the latter, Xavier August Smalls, being born in September 2025.
Edited by Nimisha