Eugene Nyavor
Detroit, MI — A heartfelt street interview involving a recently released man has captured the attention of millions online — but the story has since taken an unexpected turn.
In a video posted by popular TikTok creator and kindness advocate Zachery Dereniowski, a man identified as Chantwuan Gentry was asked if he would rather take $1000 in cash or a mystery basketball. Gentry chose the basketball, explaining that he was a fan of the sport and believed “the mystery might be worth more.”
The emotional moment escalated when Gentry revealed he had been released from prison just six days earlier and that it was his birthday. He told Zachery that his dream was “to be happy,” and expressed appreciation that someone was treating him like a human being after years of feeling “dehumanized.”
In the video, Gentry shared that he had served 21 years in prison, and that before being incarcerated, he was in the military, having returned home from deployment in Iraq to find his wife with another man.
He said the situation escalated, leading to his imprisonment. When asked what he would do differently, he responded, “I would walk away.”
Zachery gifted him the $1000 anyway, along with a small token — an ice cube tray — and later launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Let’s Change Chantwuan’s Life ❤️.”
The fundraiser quickly gained traction, with over $119,000 in donations pouring in within days.
Ex-Wife Refutes Claims
The uplifting story took a turn when a woman identified as Gentry’s ex-wife, Linda Walker ( loveleelyn), posted a video on TikTok disputing key details of his account.
She alleged that Gentry was never deployed to Iraq, and that his birthday is in August, not July as stated in the viral video.
Linda also claimed that his story about catching her with another man was false. Instead, she alleged that she herself was the victim of his abuse, and that he had never served a continuous 21-year sentence, but had been in and out of jail over the years for various offenses, including drug-related charges and tampering with his ankle monitor.
She backed up her claims with court records and photos, including documents she said show he was dishonorably discharged from the military.
@loveleelynlocs I Said What I Said and I STAND 10 Toes Down! Let me say I’M A SURVIVOR NOT HIS VICTIM ANYMORE!!!! Chantwuan lied yall need yall money back 🤯 Go look at the previous video for documentation. @Zachery Dereniowski @NikoAyana PurposedProducts #chantwuanlied #fyp #likehell #imspeakingup #exwife #dvsurvivor ♬ original sound – loveleelyn
Her post quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate online.
Online Reactions and Fundraiser Status
Social media reactions have been mixed. Some users expressed disappointment, feeling misled by the original video.
Others defended Gentry, arguing that people deserve second chances regardless of their past.
The GoFundMe campaign has since been taken down, and Zachery Dereniowski has not yet publicly responded to the new claims.
