Fans of the hit PBS series โFinding Your Rootsโ have seen the shocking episodes in which a little digging revealed that some white stars โ including Carly Simon and Joe Manganiello โ have African ancestry.
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Now, the internet is reacting to a recently resurfaced clip of rocker Steven Tyler learning that he has some Black members on his family tree as well. The Aerosmith lead singer got the shocking news from his daughter, actress Liv Tyler, in an episode of the British series, โWho Do You Think You Are?โ
In the episode, Liv tells her father that while researching his maternal ancestry, she discovered her four times great grandfather Robert Elliot was part African American.
A visibly excited Tyler told his daughter heโd always felt a connection with Black people.
โI knew it. Thank you, God!โ he replied. โI always felt akin to Black people. I had no idea, but I felt it my whole life.โ
Liv went on to tell her dad that he likely inherited his musical talent from that side of the family as well.
โHe was a drummer,โ Liv said.
While Liv and Steven were taken aback by the news, most of the chatter on TikTok was that Black people were not surprised, especially looking at Tylerโs full lips.
โItโs the lips!โ wrote one person in the comments.
Others said Stevenโs Black roots offer the perfect explanation for why the 76-year-old has aged so well.
โYou see how well heโs aged! That Black donโt crack!โ wrote one commenter.
For the most part, Black people seem to be happy to claim Steven Tyler as one of their own.
โWe all knew it. ๐ฏโค๏ธWelcome to the family,โ wrote someone.
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