Terry Crews’ Daughter Azriél Patricia Opens Up About “Religious Trauma” and Her Love Life
Growing up in the spotlight as the daughter of actor and TV personality Terry Crews wasn’t always glitz and glam for Azriél Patricia. In a new, candid conversation, the 24-year-old is opening up about how her strict Christian upbringing shaped her view of relationships — and not always in a healthy way.
Azriél admitted that in her teens and early 20s, her religious beliefs were so strict that she once ended a relationship with a boyfriend solely because he wasn’t Christian.
“I thought I was going to hell for seeing this man,” she revealed. Looking back, she now describes it as part of the “religious trauma” she’s spent years working to heal from.
Faith, Fear, and First Loves
For Azriél, the rules of her childhood faith loomed over every romantic decision. Dating was never just dating — it came with pressure, fear, and guilt. Even when she felt genuinely happy with a boyfriend, she remembers an inner voice telling her she was sinning.
“It wasn’t about love or compatibility, it was about whether God approved,” she said. “I couldn’t just be a teenager figuring things out. Everything felt like life or death.”
That weight eventually led her to end a promising relationship, not because of incompatibility, but because she was terrified of being “unequally yoked.”
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The Cost of Religious Trauma
Azriél isn’t alone. More and more young people are speaking out about “religious trauma” — a term used to describe the lingering emotional wounds caused by strict or fear-based faith systems. It can manifest in many ways: anxiety, guilt, shame around sexuality, and difficulty forming healthy relationships.
“I look back now and realize how much fear dictated my decisions,” she said. “I wasn’t choosing love. I was choosing survival.”
Healing and Rebuilding
Now in her 20s, Azriél says she’s been actively unlearning those toxic patterns and reconnecting with spirituality on her own terms. Therapy, journaling, and conversations with friends have helped her see love in a healthier light.
“Faith doesn’t have to mean fear,” she explained. “I can still honor what I believe without punishing myself for being human. And I can love someone without making it about heaven or hell.”
That healing has also made her more open to relationships. While she admits dating is still “messy” at times, she feels more confident in setting boundaries and choosing partners based on compatibility and mutual respect, rather than religious checklists.
Growing Up Crews
As Terry Crews’ daughter, Azriél has always been in the public eye, but she’s carving out her own space as a writer, singer, and outspoken advocate for mental health. By sharing her story, she hopes to help other young women who grew up in similar religious environments realize they’re not alone.
“I used to think I was the only one who struggled this way,” she said. “But now I know so many people are dealing with the same thing. If I can help even one person feel seen, it’s worth it.”
A Message to Her Younger Self
When asked what she’d say to the teenage version of herself who broke up with that boyfriend out of fear, Azriél’s answer is tender:
“I’d tell her she’s not going to hell. I’d tell her God is love, and love doesn’t punish you for being human. And I’d tell her that it’s okay to choose joy.”
Final Word
Azriél Patricia’s story is more than just celebrity tea — it’s a reflection of what so many young women go through when navigating faith, love, and identity. Her honesty is refreshing, raw, and deeply relatable.
And while her dad Terry may be the one famous for flexing on TV screens, it’s clear Azriél is flexing something just as powerful: vulnerability, growth, and the courage to speak her truth.
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