“Awkward as hell.”
Power actor Omari Hardwick has divided opinion after he was seen kissing Beyonce on the cheek twice at the NAACP Image Awards.
Footage from the Los Angeles ceremony showed the actor posing for a photo with Beyoncé’s husband Jay-Z before appearing to greet the music icon with a kiss and a hug.
After the initial greeting, the 45-year-old then appeared to kiss Beyonce once more on the cheek, although slightly closer to her mouth.
The gesture immediately divided users – with some branding it “uncomfortable” and “awkward as hell”, while others immediately jumped to Hardwick’s defence.
We’re not gonna mention how Omari Hardwick gave Beyoncé a kiss and Ghost came back and gave her another one? https://t.co/qV9qlxPve8
— 5’2”&FineToo…? (@_blackisgold_) March 31, 2019
A respectable handshake would have worked just fine from Omari Hardwick.
Women don’t need to be grabbed, hugged and kissed unless its your wife/girlfriend.
Beyonce should have slapped him !pic.twitter.com/MqflX03BYU
— Whorfery (@Whorfery) March 31, 2019
The video of Omari Hardwick and Beyonce is definitely awkward as hell, but I think that’s it. An awkward interaction. I don’t get what this extra stuff is all about ?
— IMAGINE. OUT NOW! (@_Azryah) March 31, 2019
“The video of Omari Hardwick and Beyonce is definitely awkward as hell, but I think that’s it. An awkward interaction. I don’t get what this extra stuff is all about,” reasoned one Twitter user.
Another argued: “2nd kiss was unnecessary & uncomfortable. Don’t do that again. We women so often get touched, kissed, groped & poked in instances exactly like this (at an event, at work, etc). WE DON’T LIKE IT. It’s time to no longer let these moments of discomfort slide.”
SUPER OVERREACTION to Omari Hardwick’s kiss salute to Beyonce! Homie raised in the south a hug and cheek kiss goes hand and hand often. He ain’t mean nothing by it
— JASON aka J BOY (@JASON804) March 31, 2019
What we not gone do on Twitter is tear a black man down ! Y’all gone leave #omarihardwick the hell alone. Find some business! Let’s not take away that Beyoncé and Jay won the damn award. ?FINDYOUSOMEBUSINESS
— lil ol me (@Tickle_Me_Elmos) April 1, 2019
Defending the actor, one user said: “Poor Omari Hardwick. The Beyhive is flaming his ass up.”
“SUPER OVERREACTION to Omari Hardwick’s kiss salute to Beyonce,” explained another.
“Homie raised in the south a hug and cheek kiss goes hand and hand often. He ain’t mean nothing by it.”
The pair were both in attendance to watch Chris Rock host the awards – which saw him delivering a brutal dig against Jussie Smollett.
“They said no Jussie Smollett jokes,” Rock said. “I know. What a waste of light skin, you know? You know what I could do with that light skin? That curly hair? My career would be outta here…running Hollywood.
