Rapper T.I. has revisited his controversial comments concerning his daughter's virginity, stating that the incident "sucked" and that he has "learned not to do as much talking as I do listening."

In 2019, T.I., whose real name is Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., admitted on the podcast "Ladies Like Us" that he accompanied his then-teen daughter, Deyjah Harris, to the gynecologist annually to confirm her virginity. This admission, which T.I. later referred to as "hymen-gate," resulted in significant public criticism.

At the time of the podcast episode's release, T.I. and his family were filming their reality show, "T.I. and Tiny: Friends and Family Hustle." T.I. explained to People that the airing of the show brought the family through the experience again in real time, describing the series as a "photo album" for his loved ones. The reality show aired from 2018 to 2020.

During his conversation with People, T.I. reflected on his parenting approach with his seven children, stating, "you have to operate with more faith than fear." He noted that he often sees himself in his children when discussing issues with them as they grow into young adults.

The rapper's initial comments on "Ladies Like Us" stated that his daughter, Deyjah, who was 18 at the time and beginning college, had her hymen intact as of her 18th birthday. He also defended his actions by suggesting that children often thank their parents in hindsight for preventing them from making damaging choices.

The fallout from the podcast appearance was immediate. Deyjah unfollowed her father on social media, and the hosts of "Ladies Like Us" removed the episode and issued a statement. The hosts expressed they were caught off guard and should have reacted differently, emphasizing that the rapper's comments did not reflect their views and that they support women's autonomy over their bodies.

Later in 2019, T.I. and his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, appeared on Jada Pinkett Smith's "Red Table Talk" to address the situation. T.I. claimed the comments were made in a "joking manner" and that he exaggerated for effect, believing his reputation as a father was well-known enough to prevent misinterpretation. He clarified that he had never been present in the examination room and that the gynecologist visits were not occurring when Deyjah was 18. Tiny added that Deyjah was around 15 or 16 at the time of the visits and that T.I. did not schedule them himself.

T.I. apologized directly to Deyjah, stating, "I am incredibly apologetic to her for that. To her. Not to any of these other strangers, any of these weirdos that just kind of toss lies around for fun." He also defended his actions by framing them as protective, particularly for Black women who he believes are often unprotected. He asserted that if his involvement was perceived as control, it was for the purpose of being a "protective parent."

In a 2020 episode of "T.I. and Tiny: Friends and Family Hustle," Deyjah emotionally shared that her father's public remarks left her feeling "angry, hurt, and embarrassed." She recounted seeing her name tagged in posts mentioning "gynecologist" and feeling her "heart sank." Deyjah also expressed that she felt her father treated her differently than his sons regarding discussions about sex and supervision, noting he would joke with his son King about becoming a father but never with her.

At present, T.I. is touring with his sons Domani and King on "The King Succession Tour," with dates scheduled across the U.S. through August 15.