Power Book II Star Michael Rainey Jr. Speaks Out After Disturbing Livestream Incident
In a shocking turn of events, Michael Rainey Jr., the 23-year-old star of “Power Book II: Ghost,” has spoken out about an unsettling experience during a recent livestream. On June 9, Michael appeared on TyTy James’ Twitch livestream, where he was inappropriately grabbed by James’ sister, an incident that was caught on camera and quickly circulated on social media.
A representative for Michael told PEOPLE that the actor “is deeply saddened and shocked by the events that occurred during the TyTy James livestream this past weekend.”
“He is still processing what happened and doesn’t entirely know how to feel about it,” the statement continued, emphasizing, “This situation is not being taken lightly. Sexual harassment and assault are serious and unacceptable acts. Taking advantage of someone’s celebrity in this manner devalues entertainers and underscores the need to respect their humanity. Those who entertain us are human beings just like everyone else.”
The video footage shows James’ sister’s hands obscured by children standing in front of her, but Michael’s discomfort was evident. He appeared to reach down to block her contact while looking around for assistance. He left the livestream shortly after the incident.
Michael personally addressed the situation on his Instagram Stories, expressing his shock and the seriousness of the matter.
Making it clear that he “can’t take it lightly because I know I would be in serious trouble if the roles were reversed,” he wrote, “This is an unfortunate situation that I can’t condone in any way. The fact is, sexual assault is never okay, regardless of gender or status. We’re all human, and we should respect each other. Most importantly, we should respect ourselves.”
TyTy James also responded to the incident on his Instagram Stories, issuing an apology to Michael and his family. “After the actions that occurred during my stream last night, I would like to sincerely apologize to Michael and his family for what took place. My little sister was completely wrong and out of line. What she did was very inappropriate and unacceptable. I am truly embarrassed and disgusted by her actions,” he wrote.
James continued, “I completely respect whatever direction Michael wants to go in this situation. After watching the clip, I was completely taken aback by what she done [sic]. I will take extreme precautions with future streams to avoid similar issues and have banned her from participating in future streams. I do not condone any type of assault.”
