Like many celebrities with hot tea to spill, actor and “America’s Got Talent” host Terry Crews appeared on the infamous interview series “Club Shay Shay”  with Shannon Sharpe in what felt like a therapy session for Crews to release many of the ills that have been plaguing him. One of those ills is the contentious relationship between him and his abusive father. Despite all odds, Crews has transformed his relationship with his father after his mother died. 

Crews join an esteemed A-list group of celebrities to sit down with Sharpe. From the interview that launched millions upon millions of views–Katt Williams, Mo’Nique to Usher and now Crews. “Club Shay Shay” has become a go-to destination for clearing the air and spilling hot tea. While Sharpe’s interviews are typically salacious, the former NFL baller’s chat with Sharpe was more focused on healing and forgiveness.

Crews shared that throughout his childhood, his father was abusive to his mother. So when he received a call that his father hit his mother, as an adult, Crews said it was a dark day. He shared that his family had gathered during the holidays, and he’d already pre-warned his father to be on his best behavior, especially in front of Crews’ children. But his father simply couldn’t comply. “He hit her and knocked her tooth sideways. It was crooked. [He] hit her dead in the mouth, she was bleeding,” Crews recalled.

Crews reflected on the painful memory of seeing his mother that way and said, “I beat his ass! And I felt nothing.” Crews said he felt worse for beating the man who helped bring him into the world. In defending his mother, Crews admits that he went too far. “I wouldn't even look at him. I didn’t want to look at him. I was ashamed.”

 “Bruh everything came out at that one time.” Crews said it was as if he was 5 again, and he looked at his father like the “dude he was scared of and I gotta get rid of this right now. Now, you’re gonna get what you’ve been giving out.” Crews said he left after he beat up his dad and didn’t return for about 10 years.

Crews has championed himself as a vulnerable man. He’s spoken out in the past about being molested by a Hollywood executive, and even during the 2-hour chat with Sharpe, he also apologized to Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade for his lack of support for her issues with AGT, which he called one of his biggest regrets.

He told Sharpe, “Vulnerability is strength.” He continued, “Being that vulnerable…hurt. I’ll tell people I got molested. That’s vulnerable.”

Because of vulnerability and therapy, Crews was able to call his father. “I need to find one thing that I am thankful for you, for,” he told his father and thanked him for having him. “If you didn't have me, I wouldn't exist. Thank you for being my father.” Crews said that his dad cried and apologized to him. Terry then flew home, and they could embrace each other with the possibility of a new path.