Actor Brian White unleashed a tirade on the impact of black stereotypes on TV. While mincing no words—NeNe Leakes became the brunt of his aggravation.
“You can’t call it a stereotype if it’s the majority. The most prevalent image in “urban society” right now is women like Nene Leakes. If there’s a fight that breaks out on ‘Love & Hip Hop’ those people are on every blog, the cover of every magazine the next week,” said White in an interview with Hello Beautiful.
White, who has made appearances in ‘Stomp The Yard’ and ‘Fighting’, is currently working alongside Michelle Williams in the traveling production ‘What My Husband Doesn’t Know’ which is also available on DVD.
White continued, “The most popular character in, ‘Why Did I Get Married?’, and it’s not the one that Tyler picked as the most popular, it’s Tasha! You have Janet Jackson and Jill Scott…my point is Jill Scott and Janet are huge music stars with huge fan bases; Tasha became the most popular because her character is portrayed the most like ‘Love & Hip Hop’… ‘Housewives Of Atlanta’… you might as well switch it around and pop in Nene Leakes.”
“And people get mad and say that’s not us. Yes it is, turn on ‘Love & Hip Hop’ and turn on ‘Housewives Of Atlanta’ those are “reality shows.” You can’t call something reality, then get mad when it shows up in the movies as reality, but that’s what we’re doing. That’s where the cycle continues.”
Because NeNe became a recurring focus, White was asked if he thought the stereotypes portrayed by Black women on TV, particularly NeNe, was just great acting chops or if majority of women reciprocate NeNe’s ways.
“I have five sisters and two moms, none of them are like that! To me, I can say I’m offended if they want to represent that and don’t want to represent my mom, but my mom represents Phylicia RashÄd and has been represented on TV all my life. I can’t say that. I don’t watch “Real Housewives,” I’ve never seen an episode of ‘Love & Hop Hop’ I’m not supporting it, I’m not giving it ratings. I’m not making the stereotype exist on TV. You’ve watched it, you’ve added to why it’s on TV.”
Brian continued on with his admonishing rant though he later slammed the writer on Twitter for twisting his words:
“@K_Ova Shocked at how positive our convo was on phone and to read her chopped up slanted version of it = Truly disgusted.”
While Brian working to soften his blow NeNe shot back via Twitter:
“Housewives of the A & Hip Hop wives r 2 different shows! I dont recall seeing fist fights on our show! I however do watch their show.”
“Actors feel some type of way when Reality Stars work n their field! I started out actin first! I didn’t make the rule I just play by them.”
“Funny how actors get mad when u get an gig as if the castin director was lookin 4 them! If they were lookin 4 u, they would hav called u.”
Do you think it’s possible for Brian’s comments to be misconstrued? Or do these quotes paint the picture?
