Jeremy Meeks revealed he has been ‘extremely victimised’ by police in his youth, as he reflected on the Black Lives Matter movement on Friday’s Good Morning Britain.
The model, 36, who is known as the ‘Hot Felon‘, spoke candidly about his past and said there were many times he was wrongfully targeted by the law.
Speaking passionately about the movement following George Floyd‘s death last month, he said: ‘In the year 2020 we are still talking about civil rights, that’s it, civil, the right to be civil in 2020.
‘Sometimes I had it coming, but many times I didn’t’: Jeremy Meeks revealed on Friday’s Good Morning Britain that he was ‘extremely victimised’ at the hands of police in his youth
‘I really have to be careful with what I say, I am very emotional… I have been a victim many times at the hands of the police and many times I had it coming but numerous times I didn’t, and I was just extremely victimised.’
Reflecting on recent events, he went on: ‘If you see the videos and you see people handcuffed and they pose no threat whatsoever, it doesn’t matter if you have a record or not.’
Going on to detail how the system in America ‘wasn’t designed for people of colour’, he went on: ‘The system is all a design to keep people in the projects and the ghetto with no resources and no education.
Candid: Of his own experience, Jeremy said, ‘I really have to be careful with what I say, I am very emotional… I have been a victim many times at the hands of the police’
Struggle: Speaking passionately to co-hosts Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh, he added: ‘Many times I had it coming but numerous times I didn’t, and I was just extremely victimised’
‘In public schools, you’re being taught how to be an employee. In private schools and good schools, you’re being taught how to run a business. You are given nowhere near the opportunities or chances.
‘The system is not broken, a lot of people say that the system is broken. It’s not broken, it just was not designed for people of colour.’
Jeremy first shot to stardom when his mugshot went viral in 2014 landing him a modelling career, as he signed with White Cross Management in 2015 while still serving 27-month sentence.
Honest: Going on to detail how the system in America ‘wasn’t designed for people of colour’, he went on: ‘The system is all a design to keep people in the projects and the ghetto’
Thoughts: Jeremy added, ‘You are given nowhere near the opportunities or chances. The system is not broken… it just was not designed for people of colour’
Last year Jeremy landed a $15 million deal with German company Fashion Concept GmbH to make his own clothing line, and the model gushed about the opportunity.
‘Now I own my own clothing line, you know I’m very proud to say that I am a black designer, a black business owner,’ he told co-hosts Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh.
Jeremy has been seen protesting the tragic death of George Floyd in Los Angeles, and recently uploaded a video to social media denouncing violent rioters who have been at some of the marches.
He said: ‘Listen, I’m not gonna sit and act like we’re not kicking up dust. We are pissed and frustrated and kicking s*** up.
Proud: Last year Jeremy landed a $15 million deal with Fashion Concept GmbH to make his own clothing line and Jeremy gushed about how ‘proud’ he was to be a black business owner
Serving face: Jeremy first shot to stardom when his mugshot went viral in 2014 landing him a modelling career and earned him the nickname ‘Hot Felon’
‘But I’m telling you right now, little white kids, they’re looting just as much as we are. And we’re gonna get the blame, not them. It’s the way of the world.’
In another video, he said: ‘No justice, no m***********g peace. Brought this on yourself. Prosecute or suffer the wrath of the people. The people are fed up. This is your guys’ fault.’
Ex-police officer Derek Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after a video surfaced of himself kneeling Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes.
Live update: Jeremy has been seen protesting the tragic death of George Floyd in Los Angeles, and recently uploaded a video to social media about the Black Lives Matter march