Xavier Smalls, who stars in Tyler Perry‘s Netflix drama Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black, which was recently renewed for its third and final season, is under fire over comments he allegedly made in an Instagram livestream on Feb. 7.
In the now-viral, resurfaced clip, Smalls, who plays Angel on the Netflix series, discussed religion and “sinful” behaviors with his followers. According to UK publication Attitude, Instagram user Paul Poulos captured Small’s controversial comments at the time.
“The live was on February 7th 2026 at 5:20PM,” Poulos said in an interview with Attitude. “I screen recorded it live & yes the recording is legitimate.”
@netflix ‘Beauty In Black’ star ‘Xavier Smalls’ says on his Instagram live that members of the LGBTQ+ community are going to hell because they lived their life in sin. Can someone tell me why this man is still on our TV screens? @tylerperry @netflix #beautyinblack pic.twitter.com/pns4uAEjKc
— Paul Poulos Jr.
(@MonsterStarGaga) February 8, 2026
What did Xavier Smalls say about LGBT people in his Instagram livestream?
Per Attitude, Smalls stated via Instagram that God “loves all his children, whether you’re an atheist, whether you curse him, whether you live in sin. Whether you’re drunk, smoke weed, whatever, he still loves you.”
He added, “But, he’ll send you to hell, because when you die, there’s only two places, right? And if you live in sin on this earth, he’s so holy, he’s so grand beyond our imagination, you can’t kick it with him in heaven. Not because he doesn’t love you, but because he’s so holy, he can’t dwell with unholy people.”
At this point during the live broadcast, Poulos asked Smalls whether LGBTQ people would also be condemned.
Smalls’ response? “That goes for other sinners. Scoffers, mockers, liars, all things that are an abomination,” he answered. “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.”
‘Beauty in Black’ features LGBTQ+ cast members, including Ts Madison
In 2020, Smalls graduated from Sacramento State University; he also trained at New York’s William Esper Studio, according to Complex. In addition to Beauty in Black, Smalls appeared in Perry’s 2025 film Madea’s Destination Wedding.
Unsurprisingly, many fans of Beauty in Black were quick to call out Smalls on his hypocrisy, especially since he plays a male stripper on the show.
“You mean the man that plays a male prostitute on TV?” one person commented on X, per Complex.
“I love when people act like they know who’s going to hell and who’s going to heaven, as if they’re God and have all the answers,” another person wrote.
I love when people act like they know who’s going to hell and who’s going to heaven, as if they’re God and have all the answers.
— Anttoni Lopez (@ANTTONILOPEZ) March 19, 2026
The livestream doesn’t seem to be the first time Smalls has spoken out against LGBTQ people, even though the resurfaced video is just starting to gain traction online.
Back in December of last year, it appears he posted a series of Instagram stories that implied things such as “homosexual acts” and “getting drunk/doing drugs” would mean “you’d get tortured forever.”
The post ‘Tyler Perry’s Beauty In Black’ Star Xavier Smalls Hit With Backlash After Calling LGBTQ People An ‘Abomination’ appeared first on Blavity.
