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Who Is the ‘Powerful Man’ Who Sexually Assaulted Actor Christian Keyes? Black Celebrities React

The 'All The Queen's Men' actor left social media users guessing as he tearfully recounted several incidents of sexual assault and harassment by an unnamed man.

Before actor Christian Keyes landed a starring role in the Tyler Perry-produced hit โ€œAll the Queenโ€™s Menโ€โ€”which was adapted from a novel that Keyes wroteโ€”he had bit parts model and love interest in music videos for the likes of Keri Hilson, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Ledisi and more.

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Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

Then his career began to take off as he garnered a following, appearing in made-for-TV moviesโ€”such as โ€œLord, All Men Canโ€™t Be Dogs,โ€ opposite Vivica A. Foxโ€” and stage plays such as Perryโ€™s โ€œMadea Goes to Jailโ€ and โ€œWhatโ€™s Done in the Dark.โ€

But as Keyesโ€™ star has continued to rise, putting him in more rooms with rich and powerful people, he said a โ€œconversation needs to be hadโ€ about abuse of power. On Friday night, Dec. 15, he uploaded a video to Instagram in which he delved into the details of his Hollywood experience and particularly singled out one โ€œpowerful manโ€ for his persistent bad behavior.

In the video, Keyes carefully addressed โ€œcertain powers that be that were moving inappropriatelyโ€ to not reveal their identity. But he did talk through several instances of sexual assault and sexual harassment that he has suffered.

This person was sexually harassing me for years,โ€ said Keyes, explaining that the โ€œpowerful manโ€ in question claimed and bragged about having โ€œmultiple young Black menโ€ on the payroll. โ€œAnd they just had to show up when he requested them to be there,โ€ Keyes said. โ€œClearly thatโ€™s why it felt to him that it was OK to say these things.โ€

Keyes added, โ€œIโ€™ve done my best to forgive this person, but it happens. It happens. Itโ€™s not just women that have to deal with it. Itโ€™s also men sometimes.โ€

Keyes quickly became a trending topic on X, formerly Twitter, with more than 46 million views of his video, and many social media users speculating whom the โ€œpowerful manโ€ might be and the powerful people protecting his bad behavior.

Keyes confession also elicited comments of support and well wishes from other Black celebrities who have experienced similar circumstances in the industry.

โ€œThe Hughleysโ€ and โ€œScream 2" star Elise Neal wrote, โ€œMy brother- I understand- and I completely am with u!!!,โ€ under Keyesโ€™ Instagram post. She added, โ€œIโ€™ve been in these situations and Iโ€™m proud of you.โ€

โ€œGet Outโ€ star and comedian Lil Rel Howery commented under Keyes Instagram post, โ€œProud of you brother.โ€

Comedian Gary Owens also commented, โ€œ Sorry you had to go through this & have been carrying this with you for so long bro.โ€

Black culture commentators also weighed in. Tami Roman wrote, โ€œChristian Iโ€™ve been around you several times and you are such a light who walks with integrity & peace.โ€ She added, โ€œIโ€™m sorry youโ€™ve experienced this but I commend your bravery!โ€

โ€œCocktails with Queensโ€ host Claudia Jordan commented, โ€œYou shared a piece of this with me when we first met may be 15 years ago and said one day you would come forward ... and YOU DID.โ€ She added, โ€œI am SOOOOOO proud of you!โ€

Commending Keyes for sharing his story, โ€œQueen Sugarโ€ star and soap legend Dondre T. Whitfiled implied that there is an even bigger discussion to be had about some of the Black communities top figures.

โ€œYโ€™all donโ€™t want to have this conversation. If we told yโ€™all about your HEroes and SHEroes it would break yโ€™all,โ€ he wrote under Keyesโ€™ post.

What โ€œpowerful manโ€ do you think Keyes is talking about?

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