Mike Epps is speaking out after facing increasing criticism over recent remarks about incarceration and public celebrations surrounding prison releases.
The comedian and actor addressed the backlash directly, clarifying that his words were misunderstood and reiterating his long-standing support for criminal justice reform.
According to WBLS, the controversy began after Epps appeared on The IFC Factory podcast, where he questioned the cultural practice of celebrating long prison sentences as milestones.
In the conversation, he argued that spending decades behind bars should not be framed as an achievement for young people to admire. “Those are the wrong journeys to celebrate,” Epps said at the time. “There’s no reward for coming home after 30 years. You don’t get no f***king care package. You’re a failure.”
The comments were widely discussed online, particularly because Epps was referencing the attention surrounding rapper Max B’s long-awaited prison release. Many listeners felt the statements dismissed the hardship faced by formerly incarcerated people and overlooked the realities of mass incarceration.
On Monday, November 24, Epps took to Instagram to clarify what he meant and to push back on the interpretation of his remarks. He stressed that his intent was not to shame people returning home from prison, but to question the broader message being sent to the next generation.
“I’ve always been a part of reform,” Epps said in the video. He explained that he is actively trying to help people from his hometown who are still incarcerated. According to Epps, the real concern is how young audiences absorb prison narratives.
“We don’t want to send kids mixed messages about coming home from prison being celebrated,” he said. “Feeling like you gotta go to prison and do 30, 40 years to be celebrated—I don’t think that’s cool.”
Epps added that his delivery may have contributed to the backlash. “You guys might have misunderstood what I was saying. And I might have said it the wrong way,” he acknowledged.
The criticism expanded after another interview with Jim Jones resurfaced, where Epps discussed topics including SNAP benefits and long-term dependency.
He later clarified that those comments were intended to encourage self-sufficiency, not to disparage people who rely on assistance.