Issa Rae is not letting anything stop her.
After it was reported that her show Rap Sh!t was canceled after two seasons, the actress and producer has revealed that she is currently working on two new projects for HBO. Rae is set to write, produce, and star in one project which will be set in an “alternative present” world. The second project will be based in corporate America and is in partnership with Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin, South Side originators.
This news comes after the Insecure actress gave her thoughts on the current state of Hollywood and Black creativity. “There is a bitterness of just like, who suffers from you guys pulling back? People of color always do,” Rae said. “I’m sorry, but there aren’t a lot of smart executives anymore. And a lot of them have aged out and are holding on to their positions and refusing to let young blood get in.”
She added, “Now, these conglomerate leaders are also making the decisions about Hollywood. Y’all aren’t creative people. Stick to the money. The people [who] are taking chances are platforms like TikTok. That’s what’s getting the eyeballs of the youth. So, you’re killing your own industry.”
“When you have all of these streaming services that are competing with each other, it means they’re also moving the goalposts of what success looks like and what their brand is. It’s all mush. I know what my brand identity is and what I want to make. But if that doesn’t align with who’s paying me to make stuff, then that’s complex. We are malleable, but only to an extent.”
She has also spoken out about cancellation and removal of Black shows in her line of work. “You’re seeing so many Black shows get canceled, you’re seeing so many executives–especially on the DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] side–get banned. You’re seeing very clearly now that our stories are less of a priority.”
Rae added, “I am pessimistic because there’s no one holding anybody accountable. And I can, sure, but also at what cost? I can’t force you to make my stuff. It’s made me take more steps to try to be independent down the line if I have to.”
What are your thoughts on this?