Hollywood Star Mr T was Once Questioned About His Shabby Shoes. His Response Left Everyone in Awe
Mr T was one of the most influential pop culture figures of the 1980s who also went on to appear in a number of hit movies. But despite the meteoric rise, the actor always remained close to his roots. In an interview with Bobbie Wygant, he shared how despite achieving so much he tries to keep himself grounded by wearing his family's keepsake. Even though he could afford the best shoes, he chose to wear his worn-out ones to remind himself where he came from. Like many others in Hollywood, he could have hidden himself in his cultivated persona, but he chooses to go beyond it. The shoes are a reminder of his family and their impact on his life, and he proudly carries them everywhere he goes. A clip from this hard-hitting interview recently went viral, making everyone on social media appreciate the actor's values.
The interview featured Bobbie Wygant and Mr. T talking about the latter's career, and how his experience had been till then in the industry. Wygant started off by pointing out how the actor was sitting in front of her all decked up in gold, which did not go at all with his shoes. "I'm looking at you with $10 million worth of diamonds and gold and everything and then I'm looking at your shoes that are just a disaster,” Wygant said. “Now, will you explain to me what's with these shoes? All taped up, looking tacky."
Mr. T handled the question with maturity and explained to Wygant, "Some people might see this as tacky, but there's a message in these shoes. You see, these shoes keep me humble, and if you recall, the last time that we met, I had these shoes and they were in better shape.” The shoes had been in his family for years. Wearing them reminded him that he needs to take care of them, look after their needs, and represent them in the best way possible. “My father wore them, my brothers wore them, and things like that. So they keep me humble. Let me remember that I have brothers and sisters back in Chicago. I have a mother and father that I must take care of. So I see, out in Hollywood, and especially all the money I'm making now, it’s so easy for me to be caught up in all this material stuff and forget where I come from,” Mr. T explained.
This was not the only time Mr. T showed his commitment to staying grounded amidst the glamour of Hollywood. He had created an identity for himself, in which he was sporting a lot of gold, which was a tribute to his African ancestors who arrived in the country bound in shackles. But seeing so many people struggle for even basic needs during Hurricane Katrina, he decided to overhaul this aspect of his image, as per Virgin Radio. “As a Christian, I said I would never wear my own gold again because of what happened with Hurricane Katrina,” he said. “It would be a sin against God for me to wear my gold when so many people lost everything.” Mr. T continues to be active with his philanthropic activities.