When sharing his story, the 46-year-old Grammy-winning artist admits that he 'used to take people's shoes and take people's jackets' after he dropped out of school.
- May 7, 2022
AceShowbiz - Cee-Lo Green has gotten candid about his past. Admitting that he used to rob people before finding fame, the "Crazy" hitmaker revealed that some of his victims have approached him after he became famous.
The 46-year-old, born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, shared his story when speaking to Page Six. "I was robbing people by myself. You have to understand, I didn't have any friends and I was not in school. My mom did not know. I dropped out of school, so I was fronting like I was [still] going," he confessed.
"So I would leave in the morning when school started at the same time every day," the Grammy-winning musician further explained. "I used to ride the train all day. I was like 13, 14, 15 then. I was young."
Green went on to note that he had an awakening moment six years ago. "I had a young dude come up to me and say, 'You don't remember me, but I remember you.' He said, 'I was a victim of your robbery,' " he recalled. "I used to take people's shoes and take people's jackets and stuff like that. I would hang out at the train station and rob people. This was like '87, '88. I was the guy taking people's Jordans, unfortunately."
"He basically said, 'You took my shoes at Hightower station,' which is a MARTA train station in Atlanta, Georgia. And I said, 'Sir, I'm so sorry. That was so long ago. I was so young and ignorant. Please forgive me,' " he went on recounting. "Then he said, 'I already forgive you. I forgive you 1,000 times.' He said, 'Your music let me know that it was an intervention in your life and healing. I was able to heal from your healing.' "
Green additionally shared that he was also confronted by a woman on social media. "A young lady stopped in on Instagram and left a comment saying I had robbed her, too. I remember I robbed her at a bus stop for her jacket. I'm not proud of that stuff," he said. "All the good I proceeded to do has been intentional. My career has been intentional. It's very concentrated for productivity's sake because I actually love people. Music has a lot to do with being my love language."
"If the music did not happen … that's the thing, I think the music would have happened. I was not as received or welcomed as I would like to be, but maybe that was just negativity within me. People were seemingly negative toward me," the Atlanta native elaborated. "I just acted out because I didn't feel accepted. … I will keep my distance because I'm not one to be bullied. I'm not gonna be the victim, and I wasn't. Life is a boot camp, and you have to make it through the basic training."
