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Keke Palmer Joked That Claire Huxtable From The Cosby Show Was ‘Uppity.’ So Why Is Everybody Mad?

There are plenty of other Black sitcom hot takes we could talk about if we really want to go there. This is not one of them.

Keke Palmer is known for making us all smile and cackle often on our big and small screens, but she may have just caused a fun controversy thanks to her hot take on a beloved Black classic TV mom: The Cosby Showโ€™s Claire Huxtable.

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Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

Speaking with host Terrell Grice on the popular YouTube show, the Terrell Show, the Big Boss actress joked that she felt like the character came across as โ€œuppityโ€ and did โ€œtoo muchโ€ sometimes. She then went on to speak like her in an exaggerated manner, causing Griceโ€”and most of those watching to laugh.

โ€œClaire Huxtableโ€”she was uppity, yโ€™all. Bottom line! Bottom line,โ€ she said, later hilariously adding: โ€œGirl, say what you saying! She got on my nerves sometimes. Iโ€™m like, โ€˜Claire, keep it real, sister girl!โ€™

https://twitter.com/terrellgrice/status/1664349973998338052

However, as the now-viral clip began circulating on Twitter on Wednesday, many took fault with her statementโ€”some even going so far as to take personal digs at Palmer by calling her a โ€œbaby mamaโ€ who would understandably have problems with a wife like Huxtable. Others claimed that Palmerโ€™s stance was โ€œclose to misogynoirโ€ because the show depicted a Black woman in a lead role who wasnโ€™t suffering.

https://twitter.com/epjones1983/status/1665526676774690821

Some folks feel as if the discourse that Palmerโ€™s joke inspired is doing the most with the least and shouldnโ€™t be taken as seriously as it is. And honestly? Iโ€™d have to agree. We all know Keke Palmer is great at two things: keeping it funny and keeping it real. If thatโ€™s how she feels about a fictional TV character, why is it cause for raking her over the coals about it? There are plenty of other Black sitcom hot takes that we should be focusing on instead, like:

Fresh Prince is better than Martin.

Dwayne Wayne and Whitley from A Different World shouldnโ€™t have gotten married at the end.

Tisha Campbell and Damon Wayans were a funnier couple than Tisha Campbell and Martin Lawrence.

Scooter shouldnโ€™t have left Khadijah and went on tour in Living Single.

And many more! (It should be noted here that I donโ€™t share all of these opinionsโ€”I share mostโ€”but not all.) The point is: if we all canโ€™t laugh at a jokeโ€”especially when itโ€™s Keke Palmer giving itโ€”then what can we laugh at?

Straight From The Root

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