Actor Tyrese Gibson revealed that his mother forced him to act like he had “special needs” so his family could collect government checks when he was younger.
The Fast and Furious star opened up about his late mother’s plan on a recent episode of the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast hosted by King Gillie and Wallace ‘Wallo267’ Peeples.
“My mom would make us go to the welfare building and play s**t,” Gibson, 45, told Gillie and Peeples as they both burst out laughing. “$780 straight up, government black.”
The three continued to laugh and said that this was Gibson’s “first acting job” and that his mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson, was his “first director.”
Priscilla died in February 2022 after battling COVID and pneumonia. Gibson, who called her mother “my sweet Valentine,” posted numerous updates about her health after she fell into a coma earlier that month.
Actor Tyrese Gibson revealed that his mother made him act like he had ‘special needs’ so his family could collect government checks
Priscilla died in February 2022 after battling COVID and pneumonia. (Pictured: mother and son in an undated photo)
As the trio continued to laugh, Gillie said, “Rest in peace to the legend.”
Gibson replied, “My mom recommended it to me!” He admitted that he had never publicly shared this fact about his mother until then.
-Yeah, you can’t arrest my mom, n****, she’s gone. Get the fuck out of here, government!
“We’ve passed the window of opportunity,” the Baby Boy actor added.
He explained that he and his brother were told to act that way so that Priscilla could support them as a working mother.
“It was $762 per person,” Gibson said, adding that Priscilla told them to “delay their answers” and “purposely act” like they couldn’t pass the tests.
“And I’m smart, at eight years old I was sharp, I’ve always been a straight-A student. I’m a black guy from the hood, but I’ve always been a good communicator and I’ve always been smart,” Gibson said.
He admitted that although he had “behavioral problems” and was “the class clown,” he was never a “fool.”
He explained that she told him and his three siblings to act that way so that she could support them as a working mother. (Pictured: The actor and Priscilla in 2003)
Gibson recalled an interaction he had with one of the government workers, a white lady who spoke to him as if he were “slow” while placing a puzzle in front of him.
“I think I have to get this money for Mom,” Peeples said.
With his mother by his side, Gibson said he did exactly what she told him and pretended not to know how to put the puzzle together.
“Yeah, she knew you had some acting talent,” Giles told him, as Gibson said he never remembered his two sisters doing the same.
“I don’t think the Social Security building would have believed that four of you black people screwed up,” Gibson said, laughing. “So we could get away with two.”
Following his mother’s heartbreaking death, Gibson took to Instagram and shared a touching video of him holding her hand in the hospital, along with an emotional message about her.
“Rest in peace. You fought, Mom, you fought. Oh my God, I’m so sorry this happened, Mom. I’m going to hold your hand for the rest of my life, OK?” Gibson said in the video through tears.
“Wherever I go, I’m gonna hold your hand, like you held mine when I was a kid. On every journey this life takes me on from now on, you’re gonna hold my hand, mom, okay?” he said at the end of the video.
She added in the caption: ‘On behalf of my family and everyone who ever spent time praying for my mother, this is the saddest moment of my life… My sweet Valentine just passed away.
He admitted that although he has “behavioral issues” and was the “class clown,” he was never a “dumb” kid. (Photo: Gibson on August 25, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia)
Following his mother’s heartbreaking death, Gibson took to Instagram and shared a touching video of him holding his mother’s hand in the hospital, along with a heartfelt message about her.
‘May the Lord Jesus Christ and his angels open the gates of heaven and embrace her… As a family, we are devastated and cannot believe this.
‘May the Lord Jesus Christ honor your walk with him and embrace you in heaven.
“From now on I ask you to TAKE MY HAND, MOTHER, and never let go… Just as you took my hand when I was a child and a teenager, you never let go, Mother…” Gibson concluded.
Several celebrities offered their support, including Snoop Dogg, who said: “Stay strong. I’ll come this week if you want to pray with you and hug you.”
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who previously starred in Fast and Furious films alongside Gibson, added: “I’m so sorry to hear about this brother. She was so proud of everything you are and have become. We send our deepest condolences and our deepest love to you and your family.”
Last week, the Four Brothers star got very emotional when he spoke about grief on an episode of The breakfast club.
He stopped by the radio show to talk about his upcoming album Beautiful Pain and his new film 1992, which stars him and the late Ray Liotta.
Tears flowed when host Charlamagne Tha God asked how Gibson is coping with the loss of loved ones, including his mother, two sisters, his Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker and Baby Boy director John Singleton.
“I’m doing the best I can with every 24 hours I have,” she replied, her eyes filling with tears.
Charlamagne stood up to hug him and offer him tissues, but Gibson refused, saying, “This is what it’s like to grow up. Black men cry.”
Gibson has faced significant personal losses, including the deaths of her mother and two sisters, Salendra and Shonta Gibson, in 2021 and 2023.
He also mourned the loss of industry colleagues: Baby Boy director Singleton, who passed away in 2019, and his 2 Fast 2 Furious co-star Walker, who died in a car crash in 2013.
In addition, she has endured the pain of two divorces and ongoing custody battles.
He was married to Norma Mitchell from 2007 to 2009 and shares a 17-year-old daughter, Shayla, with her.
His second marriage to Samantha Gibson ended in separation in 2020 after four years, and they have a 6-year-old daughter, Soraya.
“This is really shit. I’m going to wipe my tears,” Gibson continued. “When you do things from the heart, you touch hearts.”
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