While we one trillion percent agree with Issa Rae when she said she was “rooting for everybody Black,” we’ve got to be honest and say that there are still some times where we as Black people miss the mark. In particular, when it comes to Black movies and TV shows, there are unfortunately a handful of Black celebs whose projects make us side-eye, scratch our heads and wonder why they’d ever take part of said project in the first place.
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The latest example of that is none other than Keke Palmer who recently dropped a trailer for her new weekly series on her platform KeyTV titled “Southern Fried Rice.” The forthcoming show is set to be centered around Coco, a Korean-American girl, raised from birth by Southern Black parents as she struggles to defend and redefine her identity after being accepted into a popular HBCU.
Seeing all the negative discourse surrounding the show (more on that later), it got us thinking: this can’t be the only instance where some of our Black celeb faves missed the mark, disregarded their group chats and went all in on a project that wasn’t all that. So, we rounded up a handful of more movies and shows that sadly fit that criteria.
Let’s be clear: we’re still rooting for everybody Black. But some things are better left on the drawing board. Keep reading to get into it!
“Southern Fried Rice”
While the premise of “Southern Fried Rice” seems fine on the surface, once folks on social media got wind of it, many expressed their disappointment in Palmer for backing something like this with some saying it was “pandering” to people outside the Black community. Others felt like the timing for the project was off due to the centering of an Asian woman’s point of view at an HBCU instead of a Black woman’s during a time where Black history and culture is being erased.
Some other folks shared their sadness at whoever was in Palmer’s circle and clearly convinced her that this was the route she needed to take. Who knows, the show might end up being a banger, but as of right now, folks online clearly aren’t feeling it.
“Antebellum”
Whoever was in Janelle Monae’s group of friends clearly didn’t try hard enough to help her see how horrible of a premise this film was. The fact that so many people are still angry at the way this movie unfolded five years after its release should tell you something. We love Monaé for being a free-thinker and her love of pushing the needle, but this wasn’t the move. Like, at all.
“Queen & Slim”
Much like “Antebellum,” the way in which “Queen & Slim” unraveled was enough to have folks still trying to figure out exactly what the plot was and why things happened the way they did. While we understand the apparent need to see Black love shown on screen, the way this love story transpired and the events that led up to their tragic end was more traumatic than it was heartwarming. Nah, the group chat was clearly ignored on this one because if it wasn’t– there’s no way this would’ve been executed the way it was.
“The American Society of Magical Negroes”
Author’s Note: I really can’t say enough about how unsatisfying this movie was. And it’s a shame because Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, and Aisha Hinds are all fantastic in their respective careers. But whew, chile– this movie was so off. Here’s hoping all of their group chats let them know that so that they won’t ever go down a road like this ever again.
“Step Sisters”
A Black sorority teaching a white sorority about the history of stepping and how to do it feels like the complete antithesis of “Bring It On.” (And that film was arguably better than this one.) Everyone’s group chats should’ve said no to this, no doubt about it.
“White Chicks”
While the Wayans brother’s “White Chicks” may be revered as a classic and a cultural favorite now, back then, it definitely should’ve been something that the group chat should’ve said no too. The stereotypes and jokes in this movie alone make it hella cringey (but we’re still gonna watch it nowadays though. It is what it is).
“Nina”
The sad part about Zoe Saldaña playing Nina Simone in this movie is that she clearly had no one in her group chat who loved her enough to tell her this wasn’t the right role for her. Because if she did, she surely would’ve listened and opted against doing it. Such a bad, bad role.
“Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story”
We really don’t have to do too much explaining as to why Flex Alexander should’ve consulted his group chat before saying yes to horribly portraying Michael Jackson in “Man in the Mirror.” Yes, we know he had a family to provide for and needed the work, but come on! Some things you don’t have to say yes to and this was one of them.
“Malcolm and Marie”
There’s a thing in Hollywood called “chemistry reads” and they exist for a major reason: to assess the chemistry between the lead actors for any particular project. It’s pretty safe to say that John David Washington and Zendaya didn’t particularly pass this one with flying colors as evidenced by the slew of negative online chatter once this movie came out (and the script didn’t help it). This is definitely one they both should have respectfully passed on.
“Alice”
Despite how much we as a community may love Keke Palmer, seeing her act in a film that was half “Antebellum” and half “Django Unchained” was just… not it. This film worked more as a good concept rather than a fully fleshed out film and it’s unfortunate because we know Palmer has a good group of people around her that could’ve explained that this wasn’t the move.
“Crash”
The way “Crash” misses so many nuances of the different lived experiences between Black people, Asian people, and white people is still so astounding. For a film that tried so hard to show that we’re all the same underneath our skin color, it did a horrible job at portraying the how and why we’re disjointed as a society in the first place. Everyone involved should’ve combed through this script a little tighter and gave it some more critical thought.
“Norbit”
Eddie Murphy: we’ll always love you and you have revolutionized comedy in a way that no one else has. But let’s not ever have another “Norbit.” We know that certain things were OK back then as opposed to now, but even for 2007– the fatphobic jokes and stereotypes were distasteful. Surely, he and all his other comedic buddies could have conjured up a better take on a film than this.
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