Pastor Jamal Bryant is leaning into humor after days of online chatter about what his wife wore to a recent formal event.
The pastor shared a lighthearted Instagram post that appeared to put a playful cap on the discourse—while still making his position clear.
The post featured photos of Dr. Karri Turner Bryant in a light denim pinafore-style dress layered over a white turtleneck, paired with sneakers and sheer gloves. The look was noticeably more casual than the gown that initially sparked debate, and Bryant acknowledged that shift directly in his caption.
“Saints, y’all win… come on @mzkarri baby we now are church approved!” he wrote. He went on to thank a stylist for the updated look before adding, “Let God ARISE. Happy new years everybody 😎 Let’s move forward with the whole armor of God. The kingdom has bigger fish to fry!”
The tone marked a sharp contrast from the intensity of earlier conversations, signaling that Bryant was ready to move on—and inviting everyone else to do the same.
The original controversy began after Turner attended a gala-style fundraiser in a gown with a nude-toned lining that some online commenters mistakenly believed was sheer. The outfit, worn to a gala party and not a church service, quickly became fodder for broader debates about modesty and the expectations placed on pastors’ spouses.
Bryant addressed the criticism head-on during a New Year’s Eve service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, making it clear he found the fixation misplaced.
“The other day, the internet went crazy about a dress my wife had on,” he said from the pulpit. “They didn’t say anything about the $4 million raised for the United Negro College Fund… but insecure, petty, small-minded people set up a false barometer of holiness based off of a dress.”
He also clarified misconceptions about the garment itself. “The dress was not see-through. The dress was flesh-colored,” Bryant said, adding that the scrutiny ignored the context of the event entirely.
Perhaps most pointedly, Bryant shut down questions about approval. “I bought the dress. And I like it,” he said. “I don’t care whether you like it or not. She ain’t married to y’all. She married to me! Mind your business!”