May 1st 2024.
Eboni K. Williams has been making headlines by shining a light on HBO Max's decision to remove several shows featuring Black actors, which were then seemingly replaced by Jerrod Carmichael's new series, which some are calling "anti-Black". Jerrod, a stand-up comedian, has been facing criticism for his new show, which follows his life as a Black gay man in Hollywood. He has been called out for making race-baiting jokes about his relationship with a white man. While he has addressed these criticisms, there is still concern about the portrayal of the Black gay experience on his show.
Recently, Williams took to her Holding Court podcast to express her disappointment with HBO Max's cancellation of "at least three major Black shows" that were beloved by the Black community. These included Black Lady Sketch Show and two series created by Issa Rae, Rap Sh!t and Sweet Life: Los Angeles. Williams and her co-host, Dustin, are concerned about the lack of representation for Black people on the network, especially with Carmichael's controversial docuseries taking center stage.
In a recent tweet by Rap Sh!t star Aida Osman, Carmichael's alleged race-baiting in his show was mocked. Williams also accused him of promoting "anti-Black" content. "Not that Jerrod Carmichael shouldn't have a show, but the content and the nature of the show is anti-Black," she stated in a clip reposted by Onsite. "I just think there's a mockery of the homosexual lifestyle that's been happening right before our very eyes."
Her co-host, Dustin, agreed with Williams' sentiments, stating that Carmichael's show plays into stereotypes and mocks the Black gay experience, which is a cause for concern. He also mentioned the agenda that critics say is pushed by mainstream media. As a Black gay man himself, Dustin explained why Carmichael's portrayal of the community does more harm than good. "What he's doing is attributing certain choices and diving headfirst into a world of sexual encounters and internet dating-based sexual trysts on film as a way to define himself and his station in life," Dustin said.
"He's meeting dates on Grindr, which is a gay dating app, and he's getting dates on there and bringing them on camera as this young Black talent is getting ready for the fu*king Emmys and asking these randos do they want to attend the Emmy Awards with him," he continued.
For Williams, Carmichael's depiction of his Black gay identity seems to cater to "white comfort" and ultimately dehumanizes the very community he claims to represent. She also takes issue with HBO Max giving him such a large platform to share his experience, while simultaneously canceling other Black-led shows. "Because representation matters and we talk about that ad nauseam," Williams said. "What you're doing in this particular editorial choice by platforming and greenlighting this type of sh*t instead of all the other Black stories that could be told and need to be told and have yet to be told, you are advancing a scenario where this is the only education. This is the only correlation."
In a related controversy, Carmichael has faced backlash for a joke he made about slavery while discussing his white boyfriend. Williams and Dustin's concerns about his show highlight the importance of diverse and authentic representation in media, and the impact it can have on society.
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