Terry Crews has been widely criticised for saying the children of same-sex or single parents will grow up "severely malnourished".

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star has become a celebrated figure for advocating for women and for his 2017 testimony about allegedly being assaulted by another man.

But public opinion might be shifting against Crews after he made a series of tweets about parenting.

It began on February 25, with him complaining about a New York Times article that accused President Barack Obama of "scolding" young black men.

Crews said he was bothered that a female journalist had written an opinion piece "about how boys should be taught to grow into successful young men".

"How would she know?" he asked.

terry crews
@terrycrews · Feb 24, 2019
If a successful black man can’t advise the black male youth of the next generation, who will?

THE STREET. That’s who.

Why Does Obama Scold Black Boys? https://nyti.ms/2Np3sT5

terry crews
@terrycrews

Another thing that bothers me is that this OP-ED was written by a WOMAN about how how boys should be taught to grow into successful young men.

How would she know?

MEN NEED TO HOLD OTHER MEN ACCOUNTABLE.

3,079 4:22 PM - Feb 24, 2019

That tweet provoked accusations of misogyny, which Crews denied - and then it all got much worse.

"I've reiterated many times that same sex couples and single parents can successfully raise a child," he wrote on Saturday (local time).

"But I believe paternal AND maternal love are like vitamins and minerals to humanity. No matter where you get that paternal and maternal love. MY purpose is to give paternal love."

Another Twitter user replied: "Love is not gendered. A child will not starve with only one gender loving them."

"But they will be severely malnourished," was Crews' response.