Viral Star Stevie’s Jailhouse Cook-Ups: Signs with Streets Decoded to Fight Violence and Inspire Grand Rapids Youth, But Spirals When Influencer Ekane Bashes It Stevie, the viral star known for jailhouse cook-ups, has officially signed with NXTGEN’s Streets Decoded, a violence reduction and reentry program founded by Darryl Jackson Jr. and Anthony Williams.
After serving time in the feds, Stevie turned what he learned in prison into a real business. Selling $50 bowls of jailhouse meals, he proved if you can hustle in a cell, you can hustle anywhere.
Streets Decoded brought Stevie to Grand Rapids, MI, to talk directly with youth about change, entrepreneurship, and flipping negatives into positives. The goal: show if you can turn a prison meal into money, anything is possible.
But the plan went viral for the wrong reasons. When Stevie sold $50 bowls in Grand Rapids, backlash exploded. Critics slammed it online:
“Why would anyone pay $50 for jail food? They must want to go back to prison.”
The debate really took off when TikTok influencer Ekane called out the city for “letting someone else come make money selling prison food.” Her post sparked heated arguments, with many calling it exploitative or disrespectful.
What most didn’t know? Darryl Jackson Jr. met Stevie in the feds. After coming home, Darryl and Anthony Williams became Stevie’s managers to help him turn his hustle into real change.
During his visit, Stevie didn’t just sell food. He filmed his TV show, sharing his story of transformation. He hired local youth, paid them to help cook, and gave them something positive instead of the streets.
In two days, they sold over 500 meals, with money donated back to Streets Decoded to fund youth mentoring and violence prevention.
Despite criticism, Anthony and Darryl say the mission remains:
“A lot of people complain, but none of them have stepped up to help the youth. Many are stuck in that street mindset,” said Anthony Williams.
NXTGEN’s Streets Decoded is committed to breaking that cycle. That’s why they launched their $100 “Pray For The Streets” T-Shirts, using profits to buy guns off the street and support more youth programs.
If you’re truly about change not just talking reach out to Anthony Williams or Darryl Jackson Jr. and support the mission.
Video link: https://www.facebook.com/asharie.forshee/videos/571161685827887
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