Shonda Rhimes made news this week when she declared she was done discussing the idea of racial diversity on TV. Now, her fellow Essence magazine cover star Issa Rae is chiming in and says she completely understands how Rhimes feels.
She said Friday on The HuffPost Show,
[Rhimes is] absolutely right that this is normal, that’s a normal part of American society, so it makes sense that diversity should be represented on television. But I do get tired of being asked to constantly speak about the black experience. If I’m writing an article, it’s like, ‘Hey, we love your writing, we just want you to talk about being black and why you’re mad about it.’ And that’s frustrating. I’m like, what if I’m not mad today?
Rae also sat in on a discussion about how the media has applauded Hilary Clinton’s decision to not have plastic surgery to appear younger — a comment that has never been made about male candidates.
The Awkward Black Girl star opined,
I’m just more horrified that there is an expectation that she would need and would get plastic surgery. And the fact that she didn’t — we’re celebrating that, and I think that that’s just a travesty at the end of the day.
I applaud her for just being old as f*** and being out there, because I want to be old as f*** and not have to alter my face or body in any way, shape or form.”
Check out both clips from Issa’s visit to The HuffPost Show below.