Justin Timberlake has been accused of cultural appropriation after praising the powerful speech on racial inequality given by actor Jesse Williams at the 2016 BET Awards.

Almost immediately after posting the comment on Twitter late Sunday night, the 35-year-old faced a severe backlash.

Timberlake had tweeted: '@iJesseWilliams tho...#Inspired #BET2016.'

But Twitter users were quick to accuse Justin of using black appropriation to help build his successful music career, while remaining silent on issues affecting black people.

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Well, that backfired: Justin Timberlake (pictured May) has found himself in a lot of hot water after he praised the powerful speech on racial inequality given by actor Jesse Williams at the 2016 BET Awards

Not what he was expecting: Almost immediately after posting the now deleted comment on Twitter late Sunday night, the 35-year-old faced severe backlash

In Jesse's speech - which he gave as accepted the Humanitarian Award that recognized his dedication to the Black Lives Matter movement in particular - he said: 'This invention called whiteness uses and abuses us.

'Burying black people out of sight and out of mind while extracting our culture, our dollars, our entertainment like oil — black gold, ghettoizing and demeaning our creations, then stealing them, gentrifying our genius and then trying us on like costumes before discarding our bodies like rinds of strange fruit.'

With those powerful words still ringing in their ears, Twitter users lashed out at Timberlake.

Responding to the singer describing himself as 'inspired', one user wrote: 'Inspired you to do what? Continue to emulate black culture through your music while ignoring issues affecting black people?'

Others brought up his performance with Janet Jackson during the 2004 Super Bowl, where he had exposed her breast but left her to take the fall after it became a scandal.

Powerful moment: Jesse delivered a emotional speech as accepted the Humanitarian Award that recognised his dedication to the Black Lives Matter movement in particular

Called out: With those powerful words still ringing in their ears, Twitter users were quick to remind Justin of the success he has found and accused him of finding through cultural appropriation

Earnest Owens, a writer for Philadelphia Magazine, added: 'So does this mean you're going to stop appropriating our music and culture? And apologize to Janet too. #BETAwards.'

Timberlake replied to Owens: 'Oh, you sweet soul. The more you realize that we are the same, the more we can have a conversation. Bye.'

But his response further infuriated Twitter users, who considered it condescending and took offense at his use of the phrase 'we are the same.'

An hour later, Timberlake issues an apology saying he felt misunderstood.

He tweeted: 'I feel misunderstood. I responded to a specific tweet that wasn't meant to be a general response. I shouldn't have responded anyway...

Having his say: Philadelphia Magazine writer Earnest Owens tweeted the star: 'So does this mean you're going to stop appropriating our music and culture? And apologize to Janet too. #BETAwards'

Fired back: Justin got defensive and condescendingly replied to Ernest which made social media commentators even madder

'I feel misunderstood': after an hour of being called out, Justin issued an apology of sorts

'I forget this forum sometimes... I was truly inspired by @iJesseWilliams speech because I really do feel that we are all one... A human race.

'I apologize to anyone that felt I was out of turn. I have nothing but LOVE FOR YOU AND ALL OF US. --JT.'

However, many were not swayed by the apology.

One Twitter user posted a meme of Justin when he wore corn rows in the early 2000s next to basketball star Allen Iverson also with corn rows in and pulling a funny face.

The user added the star's quote underneath saying, '''We are all the same''.. Justin Timberlake'.

Remember nipplegate? Others brought up his performance with Janet Jackson during the 2004 Super Bowl where he exposed her breast but left her to take the fall after it became a scandal

Not helping: His response highlighted Justin's ignorance, which social media users quickly drew attention to with satirical posts