Atlanta pastor Jamal Bryant defends wife Karri after backlash over 'sheer' dress

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Atlanta pastor Jamal Bryant made it clear he has no patience for online critics after his wife, Dr Karri Turner Bryant, faced social media backlash over the dress she wore to a high-profile charity event held earlier this month.

Speaking during a fiery New Year’s Eve service shared online, Jamal addressed the controversy head-on and forcefully defended his wife’s character, choices, and impact.

The backlash followed the couple's appearance at the 2025 UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball, held at Signia by Hilton Atlanta on December 20, where she wore a flesh-toned gown accented with black lace detailing and a dramatic black bow around her legs. She completed the look with black gloves and wore her strawberry-blonde hair in soft waves.

Social media backlash erupts over Karri Turner Bryant's fundraiser gown

Soon after images from the event circulated online, some critics incorrectly labeled the dress as “sheer” and questioned its appropriateness, particularly because Karri is married to the head pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The criticism quickly spread across social platforms, prompting heated debate and judgment-laden commentary.

During a New Year’s Eve service on December 31, Jamal directly confronted the criticism, explaining why he felt compelled to respond publicly.

“I needed to get this straight. I needed to deal with it head on,” Jamal said in the video, which has since garnered more than 50,000 likes. “Because the other day, the internet went crazy about a dress my wife had on.”

Karri, seated beside him, appeared emotional as she smiled and nodded while her husband spoke.

Jamal Bryant sets the record straight during New Year’s Eve sermon

Jamal did not mince words as he addressed what he described as misplaced outrage, emphasizing that critics overlooked the true purpose and success of the evening.

“Now they didn’t say anything about the $4 million that was raised for the United Negro College Fund,” he said. “They never mentioned that she prayed until Heaven came down. They never said anything about how this was the largest fundraiser for HBCUs in the country.”

He also corrected claims about the gown itself, stating plainly, “The dress was not see-through. The dress was flesh-color.”

Bryant went on to frame the backlash as part of a broader pattern of judgment directed at women, particularly women in leadership and faith spaces.

“Insecure, jealous, petty small-minded people got in their feelings and set up a false barometer of holiness based off of a dress,” he said.

‘She ain’t married to all y’all,’ Jamal Bryant says

One of the most talked-about moments from Jamal's remarks came when he revealed that he personally bought the dress and stood firmly by the choice.

“I needed to set the record straight: I bought the dress! And I like it,” he said. “I don’t care whether you like it or not. She ain’t married to all y’all. She married to me.”

The statement drew applause from the congregation and praise online, where many supporters applauded Jamal’s public show of solidarity.

Karri Turner Bryant responds with gratitude

Karri later thanked her husband in a heartfelt Instagram comment, acknowledging both his public defense and private support.

“I Love You Baby! Thank you! Not just for me, but for every woman who has experienced what I continue to walk through,” she wrote. “Your words have been like a healing salve to my heart.”

She also reshared messages of support from followers, including one that highlighted the fundraiser’s impact: “$4 million raised — y’all ain’t used to nothing.”

Celebrities and supporters rally behind the Bryants

The video drew attention from several high-profile figures, with singer Michelle Williams commenting “🔥💯” and political commentator Angela Rye adding, “The dress STILL fly. And my sis is STILL bad, beautiful, bold, and brilliant.”

In the caption accompanying his post, Jamal urged viewers to shift their focus away from superficial criticism and toward pressing social issues.

“Now we must ADDRESS black unemployment, protection for the undocumented, health care for the underserved and access to higher education,” he wrote, noting that more than 100 people were saved during the service and over 1,000 children participated in the church’s youth program.