Actor Tyrese Gibson reveals his mom made him ‘act special needs’ to collect government checks

Actor Tyrese Gibson revealed that his mother forced him to act like he had “special needs” so his family could receive government subsidies when he was younger.

The Fast & Furious star spoke candidly about his late mother’s plan on a recent episode of the podcast Million Dollaz Worth of Game, hosted by King Gillie and Wallace “Wallo267” Peeples.

“My mom used to send us to the Social Security building to play re*****,” Gibson, 45, told Gillie and Peeples as they both burst out laughing. “$780, government n*****,” he added.

The three continued to laugh, saying that this was Gibson’s “first acting job” and that his mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson, was his “first director.”

Priscilla died in February 2022 after battling COVID and pneumonia. Gibson, who called his mother “My Sweet Valentine,” posted numerous updates on her health after falling into a coma earlier that month.

As the trio continued to laugh, Gillie said, “Rest in peace, legend.”

Gibson responded, “My mother put me up to it!” He admitted that he had never said this publicly about his mother until then.

“Yeah, you can’t arrest my mother, she’s gone – fuck off, government.”

“We took the opportunity,” the Baby Boy actor added.

He explained that he and his brother had been ordered to behave this way so that Priscilla could support them as a working mother.

“It cost $762 each,” Gibson said, adding that Priscilla told them to “suspend their answers” ​​and “intentionally pretend” they couldn’t pass the tests.

“And I’m smart, at eight years old I was sharp – I’ve always been an A student. I’m a hood n**** but I’ve always been a communicator, and I’ve always been smart,” Gibson said.

He admitted that while he had “behavioral problems” and was a “class clan,” he was never a “dumb guy.”

Gibson recalls an interaction he had with one of the government workers, a white woman who spoke to him as if he was “slow” as she laid out a puzzle for him.

“You think, I have to get this money for Mom,” Peeples said.

Gibson said that with his mother by his side, he did exactly as she said and pretended he didn’t know how to put the puzzle together.

“Yes, she knew you could act a bit,” Giles told him, while Gibson said he couldn’t remember his two sisters doing the same.

“I don’t think the Social Security office would have believed that four of you would screw up,” Gibson said, bursting into laughter. “So we got away with two.”

Following his mother’s heartbreaking death, Gibson shared a touching video on Instagram of himself holding her hand in the hospital, along with a heartfelt message about her.

“Rest in peace. You fought, mom, you fought. Oh my God, I’m so sorry this happened, mom. I’m going to hold your hand for the rest of my life, okay,” Gibson said in the video through tears.

“Wherever I go, I’ll hold your hand, like you held mine when I was a kid. Every journey this life takes me from now on, you’ll hold my hand, mom, okay?” he said as the video ended.

He added in the caption: ‘On behalf of my family and everyone who has ever spent time praying for my mother This is the saddest moment of my life………. My sweet Valentine has just passed away.

‘May the Lord Jesus Christ and his angels open the doors of heaven and embrace her. We as a family are heartbroken and just can’t believe this.

May the Lord Jesus Christ honor your walk with Him and embrace you in heaven.

“From this moment on I ask that you HOLD MY HAND MOTHER and never let go of my hand………. Like you held my hand when you were a child and a teenager and never let go of my hand mother…..,” Gibson concluded.

A number of celebrities showed their support, including Snoop Dogg, who said: “Stay strong, I’ll come by this week if you like to pray with you and give you a hug.”

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who previously starred in the Fast & Furious films opposite Gibson, added: “I’m so sorry for this brother. She was so proud of who you are and have become. Deepest condolences and love to you and your family.”

Just last week, the Four Brothers star was overcome with emotion when he appeared on an episode of The Breakfast Club.

He stopped by the radio show to talk about his upcoming album Beautiful Pain and his new film 1992, which stars him and the late Ray Liotta.

Tears flowed when host Charlamagne Tha God asked Gibson how he was coping with the loss of loved ones, including his mother, two sisters, Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker and Baby Boy director John Singleton.

“I do my best with every 24 hours I have,” he replied, his eyes filling with tears.

Charlamagne stood up to hug him and offered him tissues, but Gibson refused, saying, “This is what adulting is. Black men cry.”

Gibson faced significant personal losses in 2021 and 2023, including the deaths of his mother and his two sisters, Salendra and Shonta Gibson.

He also mourned the loss of film industry colleagues Baby Boy director Singleton, who died in 2019, and 2 Fast 2 Furious co-star Walker, who died in a car crash in 2013.

Additionally, he has endured the pain of two divorces and ongoing custody battles.

From 2007 to 2009, he was married to Norma Mitchell and together they have a 17-year-old daughter, Shayla.

His second marriage to Samantha Gibson ended in divorce in 2020 after four years. They have a 6-year-old daughter, Soraya.

“This is some real shit right here. I’m gonna wipe my own tears,” Gibson continued. “When you do things from your heart, it touches hearts.”