'FNF' actor Tyrese Gibson reveals his mother's bizarre strategy to receive Social Security payments

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Tyrese Gibson recently revealed surprising facts about his early life and acknowledged that his mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson, utilized him as a pawn to help the family out.

Gibson, 45, revealed his involvement in all the drama as well as the tricks his mother employed to obtain government financial aid. He said his mother was his first-ever director and it was his first time acting.

Tyrese Gibson's mom forced him to act 'special needs' to get government aid

The 'Fast and Furious' actor reminisced about his family's financial struggles and how he assisted them by joining his mother's plot to obtain further government assistance.

He recounted how, when he was eight years old, his mother forced him to claim special needs in order to receive sizable Social Security payments.

He revealed that Priscilla had instructed him to "play re*****" to extract an additional $762 from the government coffers.

Speaking in a new episode of the 'Million Dollaz Worth of Game' podcast, Gibson revealed that his mother Priscilla forced him to pretend he had "special needs" when he was younger for their family to receive government benefits.

"My mama used to make us go to the social security building and play re*****. $780 straight up, government cheese n*****," Gibson revealed to hosts King Gillie and Wallace 'Wallo267' Peeples.

With further laughter, the three of them proclaimed that that was Gibson's "first acting gig" and that his mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson, was his "first director."

He said, "I never shared this shit publicly in my life," before turning to face the camera. "Hey, you can’t arrest my mama, n***a, she gone... We passed the window of opportunity."

He clarified that Priscilla, being a working mother, urged him and his brother to behave in such a manner. "It was $762 a piece," Gibson said.

He noted that Priscilla would advise them to "delay ya'll answers" and "purposely act" as though they were unable to pass the exams.

"And I'm smart, at eight-years-old I was sharp - I've always been a A student. I'm a hood n**** but I've always been a communicator, and always been smart," the 'Baby Boy' actor added.

He admitted that despite being the "class clown" and having "behavioral problems," he was never a "dummy."

Gibson described the money as "government cheese," sounded unconcerned, and said that his mother could no longer be arrested because "she's gone."

Tyrese Gibson's mom Priscilla died in 2022 from pneumonia and Covid-19

Per Daily Mail, Priscilla died due to pneumonia and COVID-19 in February 2022. Gibson, who referred to his mother as "My sweet valentine," kept fans updated on her condition on multiple occasions following her coma earlier in the month.

The actor called her death the worst moment of his life, as she had been in a coma for several days before she succumbed to her illness.

Following the tragic death of his mother, Gibson posted a poignant message on Instagram along with a heartwarming video of him holding her hand in the hospital.

"Rest in peace. You fought, mom, you fought. Oh my God I'm so sorry this happened mom. I'm gonna hold your hand for the rest of my life, OK," Gibson sobbed as she spoke on the video

"On behalf of my family and everyone who ever spent anytime praying tor my mother This is the saddest moment of my life………. My sweet Valentine just passed away," he captioned the post.

Luckily, Priscilla lived long enough to witness her son apply his gift and star in successful motion pictures.

Gibson has experienced several major personal setbacks, such as the death of his mother and the two Gibson sisters, Salendra and Shonta, in 2021 and in 2023, respectively.

During an episode of 'The Breakfast Club', he also expressed his grief at the deaths of two friends in the industry: '2 Fast 2 Furious' co-star Paul Walker who died in a 2013 car crash, and director of 'Baby Boy', John Singleton, who died in 2019.

Gibson has also been through the anguish of two divorces and continuing custody disputes.