Yara Shahidi, after Chris Rock’s comedy spiel on Jussie Smollett and announcing “Black-ish” won for Outstanding comedy, stated “I Stand With Jussie”. Chris Rock made uncomfortable jokes, which many audience members found to be hilarious, but not all.
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The cast of “Black-ish” all gathered on stage as Anthony Anderson, cast member, and host of the NAACP Image Awards 50 comically encouraged the younger cast to speak. Anthony then nudged Yara to say something smart, and she did just that.
Chris Rock joked about Jussie as if he believed Jussie faked his assault and used his light skin in reference to power a privilege Chris believed Jussie was wasting. Yara may’ve found Chris’s jokes funny, or found understanding for his reasons for doing it, but that didn’t stop her from taking her moment in accepting an award to make a stand.
Even though it was a simple stand, and Yara and Chris probably laughed it off, it says a lot for 19 year old Shahidi to, after an entire audience laughed at Jussie’s expense, make a statement so bold. Jussie was also nominated that night, but lost to Grey’s Anatomy star Jessie Williams.
“…what a waste of light skin. Do you know what I could do with that light skin? That curly hair, my career would be out of here. I would be running Hollywood. What the hell was he thinking? You are known as ‘Jessie’ for now on. You don’t even get the ‘u’ anymore. That ‘u’ was for respect. You ain’t getting no respect from me.” – Chris Rock
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