In late 2019, the world was stunned when rapper T.I. made headlines for a revelation that ignited a global conversation about privacy, parenting, and women’s rights.

On a podcast, T.I. openly shared that he takes his oldest daughter, Deyjah Harris, to the gynecologist every year to ensure she is still a virgin.

The rapper’s comments were met with immediate backlash, sparking outrage across social media and mainstream news. But the controversy didn’t just affect T.I.—it had a profound impact on Deyjah herself, who has since bravely opened up about her struggles with mental health, depression, and the journey toward healing.

The Controversy: When Private Lives Become Public Debate

T.I.’s comments were explicit and unapologetic. He described his annual trips with Deyjah to check her hymen, even detailing how he would remind her of the appointment right after her birthday celebrations.

“She’s enjoying her gifts, I put a sticky note on the floor—gyno tomorrow, 9:30,” he recounted. He also explained how Deyjah was asked to sign forms so her medical information could be shared with him.

The backlash was swift and fierce. Critics argued that his actions were invasive and controlling, raising concerns about bodily autonomy, consent, and the psychological impact of such parenting.

Medical professionals weighed in, explaining that the hymen is not a reliable indicator of virginity. Feminist groups called out the perpetuation of harmful myths about female sexuality. And, perhaps most importantly, people began to ask: What about Deyjah? How did this public exposure affect her?

Deyjah’s Response: Speaking Out About Mental Health

For months, Deyjah Harris remained silent. But the effects of such public scrutiny were not so easily dismissed.

In a courageous move, Deyjah took to YouTube in a video titled “Mental Health Matters Part One,” where she shared her personal story of battling depression and anxiety.

“Depression and anxiety is something that I’ve been dealing with since about the age of eleven,” Deyjah revealed. She described how her self-esteem started to suffer in the sixth grade due to bullying, leaving her confused and unable to express her feelings.

“I definitely knew that I wasn’t able to express what it was that I was going through,” she said.

Without proper knowledge or support, Deyjah turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms—self-inflicted behaviors that, while offering temporary relief, ultimately hindered her growth and well-being. Her story is a powerful reminder that mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.

In a brave post shared to Instagram in honor of Self-Injury Awareness Day on March 1, Deyjah Harris, daughter of rapper T.I., bared the scars of her own experiences with self-harm.

She did so to share an encouraging message with her young followers and to be of support to those who can relate.

“Perhaps I had to experience this in order to be able to help someone else that is or will deal with this…I mean we hurt so that we can help others heal from that same pain, right?” she wrote.

“I don’t need any sympathy, I don’t need any of you to try and guess why I did this to myself, I don’t need you to tell me things like “oh you shouldn’t do that to yourself, you’re too pretty for that” etc. because that will change nothing.

All I need for you to do is simply speak and live in your truth like i always encourage you to do. I need you to see that if i can be brave enough to share this part of myself/my journey with the world, then you can too.”

Harris has used her page to be a safe space for the Gen Z community to open up about their mental health. In her message, she told them to not be afraid to share their own stories if and when they find themselves wanting to for fear of ridicule.

“A lot of people don’t talk about the fact that there are multiple forms of self-harm, so for those of you that can’t relate to cutting but you can relate to other forms, I see you too and you’re not alone, TRUST me when I say that.. but let me tell you this, don’t you dare spend the rest of your life hiding who you are/what you’ve been through,” she said.

“I don’t care if you think people will judge you, if you think people will think you’re not right in the head, if you think it’ll make people love or like you less, or if you think people will say you’re doing it for attention, you deserve to share your story… when or if YOU’RE ready. your story can + will save so many lives and you don’t even know it yet.”

Harris was able to share her own story because of the support of her parents, T.I., her mom Niko, and her bonus mom, Tameka “Tiny” Harris. In a separate post, she praised them for getting her into therapy and standing by her when they didn’t understand why she was cutting herself.