Stacey Dash is 49 years old and she’s worked as an actress somewhat consistently since the 1980s. She’s worked on a variety of projects, from mainstream films to network TV shows to cable shows on BET and VH1. It’s the BET work that came back to haunt her this week, when Stacey – a self-styled conservative pundit – went on Fox News to discuss the absurdity of discussing #OscarsSoWhite. She ended up saying that we need to get rid of the BET channel. And the NAACP Image Awards. And Black History Month. Because… reasons. Well, BET trolled her with an Instagram by reminding her that they once signed her paychecks. So of course Stacey had to respond, because unhinged morons always have to have the last word. Stacey has a Patheos blog (just like Bristol Palin!) and she wrote a lengthy post about BET and more – you can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
Ever since I said THIS on Fox yesterday, Black Entertainment Television has been throwing shade. They reminded me — and the rest of America — that I appeared on a show called The Game, which appeared on BET.
“Soooooo @realstaceyldash, can we get our check back… or nah?” the Instagram caption read. “#Remember #YouWereOnTheGame #AndWeDontMeanTheRapper.”
Well, here’s the thing. Thank you for reminding me, since most people have never heard of that show. Why? It’s on BET. Quick. Name the top shows on BET. Drawing a blank? I think I’ve made my point.
I’m thankful for all of the acting jobs I’ve had. But I look forward to the day when people don’t self-segregate based on skin color, while loudly complaining about a segregated society. That might be hard for the people at BET to understand, especially after I read this quote from a BET exec about the Oscars: “It would be great if the Oscar nominees represented even closely the percentage of moviegoers who are of different ethnicities, but they don’t,” said Stephen Hill.
Wow. Apparently, Mr. Hill doesn’t understand what an Oscar is. Oscars are awarded to the actors and actresses who excel… not the audience. What’s next? Awarding $1 million to the guy sitting in his pajamas on the couch watching Survivor? Giving a blue ribbon to the kid who stayed home from field day? Giving a Nobel Peace Prize to a President who escalated wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? No, that would be unreasonable.
My problem goes back to the notion that every area of life needs to break down exactly according to demographic ratios except in those areas in which black people have decided they want to have their own space. I don’t have a problem with black people having their own space. I have a problem with the folks at BET absolutely freaking out when other institutions don’t match up to what they think is best… Lord help the institution that doesn’t measure up to the standards of “diversity” they deem is acceptable. BET lies to American black people by telling them that the rest of America is racist, so stick close to your own kind. Anything that promotes segregation is bad! And they’re absolutely mortified that someone like me — an independent-thinking black woman — dares call their bluff.
This is basically the chicken vs. egg argument about racism in entertainment. What came first, niche programming and entertainment tailored to specific demographics, or mainstream entertainment actively ignoring demos that weren’t white, hetero and (mostly) male? And again, I have to ask – because I’m legitimately confused about this – why are there people in this country so dreadfully butthurt that such niche programming exists, or that there are awards shows dedicated to recognizing talented and racially diverse artists? Especially in the past two years, when “mainstream” awards shows have made it clear that artists of color are never good enough?
Also: Stacey Dash is such an idiot. I’m choosing not to be upset about it, but it does bug.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Dear Stacey: I encourage you to join me for a day sitting in on public hearings at our state Commission Against Discrimination. Or any state commission against discrimination. Or the EEOC. Or check out the Justice Department statistics for hate crimes in the past five years – they are shocking and frightening. Yes, there are lots of racists in this country, Stacey. And bigots who hate people over 40, bigots who hate women, bigots who hate based on national origin or ethnicity, and bigots who hate based on religion. You actually work with a few right there at Fox News.
I think it would be great if she did that but she could just turn on the news. 😉 And I’m talking about CNN International. I’m in Germany and that’s the American news program we have and it doesn’t even focus solely on the U.S.
I think this woman just hates herself. I can’t come up with another explanation.
Amen, Lilacflowers, amen.
PREACH. Ugh, this lady….
LILACFLOWERS! KITTEN! Are you guys posting while buried under 12 feet of snow? Did you buy your bread, milk, and TP? Such dedication!!!
We’re not getting the storm! Crazy right? It’s right to our south so we’ll only get an inch or two. For once, I can laugh at all the other suffering bastards! Woot!
We are supposed to get two feet in DE. Stocking up on wine as we speak.
My cousins in NC and TN are going to get more than us. Although I did stock up on batteries yesterday – for the TV remote. And I’m going to Boston Public Market today to stock up on fancy provisions for the Pats game
GNAT, I forgot you were Eastern Seaboard, too. I can’t imagine dealing with that mess. We get two inches of snow/ice here in North Texas and Kroger is empty and school is cancelled. You could make a wine slushy with snow, like a smoothie since we decided wine is the original juicing.
The tags for the article pretty much sum it up: Stacey Dash, stupid
Girl…
So anyway after being finally relieved of my constipation I’ve been desperately craving some haagen daz even though I know I suffer every time.
She’s entitled to her own opinion, but I hate it when people support their argument by taking your argument to the ridiculous extreme. Saying that the awards should reflect the diversity of the audience is the same as awarding someone a million dollars for sitting on his couch watching tv? How? It’s such a poor tactic if you want to have a meaningful discussion.
She doesn’t want to have a meaningful discussion. She wants to push forth the Fox News view point to keep that paycheck coming.
Maybe I misunderstood you, but to me it’s not a chicken and egg question. Discrimination and exclusion of people of color in the media absolutely came first. People of color have been mistreated and marganalized in this country since the very beginning, since westerners set foot on this continent.
Also this dumbass needs to look up segregation and crack a history book, and then stop throwing that word around in such a blasé manner.
I think that’s what Kaiser was saying – Dash seems to be under the impression that the US was a happy-clappy all-inclusive mosaic until those silly black folks decided to separate themselves into ghettos and the like. In fact it is completely the other way around.
Thanks! I had a reading comprehension glitch lol.
Totally agree with you.
Thanks, Patricia! I was just thinking how to word exactly what you said!
Have. A. Seat.
Word.
So BET lies to black people about racism but FOX News doesn’t lie to white people about black people. Got it.
LOL
BAM mic drop!
How does Fox News lie about black people? Just curious….
You won’t get any substantive answers, Dom. Fox News is the go-to bogeyman for a lot of people.
For one, I can think of the #BlackLivesMatter campaign. FoxNews has constantly and consistently relayed that this is a racist movement with violent supporters and protesters. FoxNews constantly distorts facts/statistics on crime rates to imply that blacks are more violent and prone to crime. FoxNews just recently did a segment stating that black rappers who discuss police violence are inciting riots and are a disgrace to this great nation. Two days ago read on FoxNews.com website an article about a Cuban born, American raised, professor being invested by the FBI because he is Muslim and made some statements against Isreal, the wording, tone, misapplied statistics and materials used in that article was incredibly bias and sickening. Lastly, was this not the same network that had an anchor speak with vehemence that Jesus and Santa Claus are NOT black and ARE white and was upset that people would dare mention otherwise.
@Robin
On the contrary, many commenters on this site just tend not to waste their time when they think someone setting up a question that isn’t authentic.
There are videos of that you can look up of #BlackLivesMatter campaigns that depict members of that group inciting violence and calling for dead police. That is fact. The Cuban teacher did eulogize a suicide bomber and yelled death to Israel. Perhaps if he said death to black people you would be more upset. Instead it was just anti-Semitic hate speech. That is what really confuses me. A lot of people are upset and rightfully so about racism toward one group of people, But are you just against racism and bias against one group or do you condemn all racism and all hate speech. It seems to me that a lot of people are themselves guilty of being biased against white people and those whose skin isn’t dark enough. As far as the Santa Claus comment, it was stupid, ignorant and hurtful.
@ The Eternal Side-Eye says:
No I was genuinely interested in hearing what she had to say.
@ Dom I had issues with that professor, but I had bigger issues with the reporting of that story. The way they misapplied facts was startling and dangerous. It was basic 101 on how not to report a non-bias story. Where was FoxNews when this happened http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3382511/Militiamen-federal-wildlife-refuge-Oregon-anti-government-rally-support-two-ranchers-heading-jail-arson.html. To that I mean, where was the outrage, where was the rhetoric, the condemnation, the speechifying about being unAmerican. Because the actions of that Militia is a greater problem than anything that has developed from #BlackLivesMatters. They use general protest tactics, what they have never done is bumrush a government facility with weapons. A matter of fact there is not a single incident of #BlackLivesMatters as a movement being violent. However, I understand that you are deeply entrenched in the propaganda and as a result I know there is not a need to continue the discourse. Notice how you didn’t mention the other examples of their indoctrination.
@ amunet ma’at
I don’t know what you mean by not addressing your other examples of indoctrination. But, I suppose you are right. We have different points of view.
“However, I understand that you are deeply entrenched in the propaganda” –
Lol. You know I could say the same about you.
Seems accurate LOL
Please explain: If she believes that we should get rid of BET and Black award shows, does she also think we should get rid of Spanish programs and channels (there are many of them) ? Does she also believe they should get rid of Hispanic awards shows?
She is going after them hard. In her initial statement she specifically went after them. She did not go after another station like Univision.
Did she go to them for work and they turned her down or something.
Its not really about BET. The girl has no mind of her own, she is just a conservative attack dog. Need a black “celebrity” to say something about troublesome black folk who dont know their place? Call up Stacey Dash. She is always game for stirring sh*t up.
I couldn’t name the top TV shows on any channel, so my inability to name the top ones on BET doesn’t really have much to do with anything other than the fact that I don’t get paid to know that shit.
Someone turn off her microphone.
True. List them for NBC:
(the world waits)
Self hatred is real and very, very sad.
She truly is a troll.
Best to turn your back on her and walk away.
Stacey Dash is paid to be the person that all those white Fox execs can point to when they say “Some of my best friends are black…” She obviously decided long ago that a steady paycheck from a company that despises her was more important than any notion of self-respect.
And Ben Carson.
Damon Dash said as much. He said that FoxNews pays her to say these comments. I’m like DUH, of course they do she’s an actress being feed lines for a paycheck. They lucked out with her because she’s so brainwashed and clearly practices deep seeded self-hate.
I am waiting for Stacy to engage in some Twitter war of words with Jada Pinkett Smith. The suits at Fox News are probably drooling over the prospect and resulting attention.
So, BET is lying to POC about racism in America? Is she trying to tell everyone that racism doesn’t exist ?
Dear Stacey, just because it isn’t happening to you, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist – for example intelligence…
lol, People need BET when they have their own experience.
Still, nice to hear her relay what her friends want to spin to PoC like her.
She’s really not bright. I hope Fox News is paying her well. What is she going to do when they cast her aside? She certainly won’t get work in the black community.
I agree, she does not “present” well. Not very articulate.
So… time to stop engaging with this troll, and let her get on with her quest for white approval: they can keep that mess.
No, hon. Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize for being a black president in America, the country of black oppression. Not self oppression. A civil war wasn’t fought over self oppression.
You think he received the peace prize for being a black president? Interesting….
You’ve been all up and down this thread making ignorant and inflammatory cracks. Don’t you have a Trump rally to attend?
@ Holmes
I thought the comment was interesting. Are those with different views and opinions not allowed to make comments?
I find your Trump comment offensive.
Lol!
My impression at the time was they gave him the prize not for what he’d done but as a kind of aspirational prize — “Your predecessor tore the world apart and we have high hopes that you will mend it. No pressure!”
It was almost embarrassing for him as he hadn’t had that many months in office, and people picked on him for it as if he had anything to do with it.
From Wikipedia: “The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on October 9, 2009, citing Obama’s promotion of nuclear nonproliferation[2] and a “new climate” in international relations fostered by Obama, especially in reaching out to the Muslim world.[3][4]”
Oh, I see. Yeah that is pretty embarrassing. Well we definitely have a “new climate” in our international relations. And our deal with Iran seems pretty solid.
I’m not sure what is exactly wrong with her. Is she transracial and has some identity issues or is she just a troll?! She can’t be just that stupid.
Sometimes people of the same skin color have different opinions on different issues.
Thank you!
All I have to add is that yesterday I was driving on a county road, no traffic, just me and a SUV in front of me. Suddenly, a sheriff’s car zooms around me, lights flashing, signalling the first car to pull over. I was puzzled, as the driver was not speeding or driving erratically. When I passed them I saw the possible infraction – she was DWB(Driving While Black). Now maybe the cop saw something earlier, but I consistently see more A-A drivers pulled over, which makes me think targeting.
Lately, whenever I’m behind someone driving excessively slow in the city, more often than not they are a PoC. Like, people of color are so f*cking terrified of getting pulled over that they’re actually driving several miles UNDER the speed limit to ensure that doesn’t happen. Meanwhile, as a white chick I typically drive 5-10 miles over the limit and never think twice about it, never get pulled over. YET, at least..lol
I don’t doubt she’s lovely in that regard but the other mess she puts out is pretty much a lifetime deal breaker. Black people have enough to deal with.
Interesting post. I had that happen to me right after I moved from Michigan to California in a town which I soon discovered was seriously lacking in diversity. I happen to drive a big old ’89 Cadillac Coupe DeVille & one night I was driving home from dinner (after dark) with my visiting mother & the cops came screaming up behind us, both officers hopped out & shone their flashlights in both our faces & then one of them goes “OH!” Right because I’m caucasian & they weren’t sure what to do next. They told me to have a good night, started walking away & I said wait! Why did you pull me over?? He responded with a mumbled something about thinking I had a tail light out & just took off. Leaving my mother & me bemused & then subsequently extremely pissed off that this shit actually still f-ing happens! And happens ALL THE TIME! That it EVER happened at all is disgusting & repugnant on SO many levels! I grew up in a very diverse area & I didn’t have a good grasp on how certain people & places can be… I didn’t stick around long, I promptly moved to a different town.
I was reading the comments from an article on Fox News about the DC traffic jam the other night. The blatant racism and hate is shocking. Stacy should spend some time reading them too. Maybe it would open her eyes a tad.
But then she’s have to get out of her safe bubble..
Fox News is my trigger word, I don’t know you would expose yourself to that.
“And they’re absolutely mortified that someone like me — an independent-thinking black woman — dares call their bluff.” Ugh, AS. IF!
I believe Stacey probably hasn’t been on the receiving end of a lot of racism. She’s gorgeous, light-skinned, green-eyed (the nose job helps), and very thin.
I used to work with Stacey. She was a lovely woman. Kind and professional to the underlings, dated a member of the crew (who was white), provided a nice home for her son, learned people’s names. There were other actors on the show who were entitled divas, and she was not. She didn’t pretend to be a writer or a director like some of the other actors on that show. She was well-liked, showed up and did her job. I had no idea she was so conservative. Maybe she’s gone Dennis Miller on us all.
How sad that her conservatism surprised you.
Her self-hate surprises me. The black community has been supporting her work for years. Now that she’s getting money from the white media her self-hatred is showing.
I’m not sure I understand the spirit of your comment. My point is that she always came across as a good person, so seeing her support conservative candidates’ perspectives and trash liberals does surprise me because it isn’t in line with what I saw of her behavior.
So, in order to be a nice person one must support liberal causes and trash conservatives?
Maybe you (or anyone) can answer his for me. I had to write an article about her for a freelance job last week, and in researching it, I couldn’t help but notice how she appears to be changing her appearance and making herself appear less black. In one photo, she had blonde straightened hair, blue eyes (I’m assuming contacts), and im pretty sure she’s had her nose done Looking at earlier photos. either that tells a tale about Stacy Dash, the person and how she feels about herself, or Fox News has finally “gone there” and contractually obligated all of their female employees to comply with the blonde white chick “dress code”. Is there such a thing as racial or sociopolitical Stockholm Syndrome?
Again – Sitting in her pretty light skinned BARELY black, conservative ASS, it’s easy to say black people started the mess by having the BET channel and whatnot. Maybe the shows at BET aren’t watched by YOUR demographic, Stacey, but it is watched by African-Americans, it is being watched internationally (Being Mary Jane, The Real Ex Husbands of Hollywood anyone?) and by anyone who actually doesn’t care that BET is a channel mostly directed at Black people.
And also, I see nobody complaining about Latino television and award shows: Latin Grammys, Latin Billboard, Telemundo, etc. Is it because they pass as “white”? (To me, before I had proper cable TV and proper internet about 15 years ago, you could tell me JLo was not white and I would challenge that notion – to me she was a white woman. Still doesn’t make much sense to me but I know better).
It’s a terrible thing to bite the hand that fed you, and got you to where you are now. Oh and she was also a video girl (I’m pretty sure that’s where I saw her first!).
(For context, I’m not American).
I am white so i don’t have personal experience, but hasn’t almost every Poc experienced racism or microagressions at least once in their life? It’s sad and i wish it wasn’t happening but this is the hard and shameful reality.
Her argument about BET lying to black people that the rest of America is racist, is ridiculous. I don’t live in America, nor i believe an entire country is racist, but black people deal with racism everyday, does she really believe they need BET to propagandize them? They can see that there’s prejudice and they are not treated the same.
“pretty light skinned BARELY black”
Wow. Way to perpetuate the whole skin tone issue that exists in the black community. That makes you no better than Stacey. Just sayin.
Its not about perpetuating it, but it’s a fact. I can almost guarantee that shes grown to hear things such as “you are so beautiful, your skin is so light, i love ur hair” etc etc and well she probably experienced prejudice in either the white or black community but she has not experienced the same as darker skinned people have experienced. I live in a country where the 1 drop rule does not really apply, as my dad’s father was mixed race and i probably have white ancestors (italian apparently) and yet my dad and myself are as black as it comes. We are what we mostly look like and the biracials are biracials and we dont care much about it. Yet, our youth is lost, trying to be as fair as rihanna and have that beautiful hair and eyes, and going to extreme lengths to achieve thag look.
I watch from afar the kind of prejudice black people in America or even South Africa experience and i can imagine she is on a far better end than most people. She should appreciate who she is and im sure she does, WITHOUT belittling what happens to black people everywhere. We all need representation. We need people to look up to, role models, people who we can aspire to mimic and if there was no BET and etc it would be so much worse. People wanting (even more) to bleach their skins and straighten their hair and wear contact lenses to feel more like they are “part” of this whitewashed world we are being fed. So yes i do think that her privilege keeps her from understanding the bigger picture. Had she experienced and witnessed first hand this kind of oppression and prejudice she wouldn’t say these things so lightly.
That being said in an ideal world we wouldnt need to have different channels and award shows to get the recognition we deserve. But this does not apply, sadly.
Sounds like you are projecting; we have no idea what experiences Stacey based on her skin.
Mimz, has she lightened her skin? Looking at older photos from her “Clueless” days and before, she looks very, VERY different
I was thinking that too. I remember her being much darker-complected in Clueless. Maybe it’s just the lighting.
I honestly thought she was a white woman when I first saw her photo without reading the headline. So many white women tan to about that shade that I didn’t realise she was black until I read that it was Stacey Dash.
Actually I think she’s really smart and I’m starting to respect her more. Not everything is black and white and she has some good points, even if they can be argued. I know lots of white people and most, if not all, are against racism. I don’t like it when people say all whites are racist. That’s a racist comment.
What is a racist? Seriously. Technically, how do you define a racist? maybe we are clashing on this definition bc I’m trying to understand your respect for her. Where I am standing, I think she has her head in the sand.
I do think she makes one or two valid points. And of course she is entitled to her opinion.
I do think she makes one or two valid points. And of course she is entitled to her opinion. Even if it’s not what we expect or want to hear.
well, the game used to be on the cw and was averaging 2 million viewers and when it got resuscitated on BET it made records with 7 millions when it premiered there. so there, stacey.
The title of that show makes me chuckle. Being “on the game” means something else entirely where I’m from, and it’s not a well thought of profession, even if it is one of the oldest!
Stacey is speaking from a position of assuming things are all ok and equal bc where she is standing is good. She also doesn’t look like someone a white person who watches Fox would be afraid of. She probably does have a level of self-hate, but remember self-hate comes from a place of shame, a shame that is most likely induced by societal attitudes towards blacks. She is a product of racism, and I hate to use this kind of analogy, but it fits: she is the house slave who has no empathy for the field slaves because she’s comfortable where she is, she’s blind and she’s to be pitied.
That’s just ridiculous, and your statement that white people who watch Fox wouldn’t be afraid of her because of her light skin is a racist statement in itself.
Ok, I hear your point, Robin. Then I would like to know how do you explain Stacey Dash?
Annaloo you are absolutely right. Robin doesn’t want to hear it because she is placing herself/himself in the equation somehow. If you look at the situation from an objective stance everything you are saying is spot on. Stacey is a pitiful house slave, she has only ever starred on black tv shows and black movies for the exception of the Clueless sidekick she’s even starred in Kanye West and Master P music videos. She wasn’t even noticed by white mainstream until she had something negative to say about Obama. What makes her pitiful is that she needs to belittle one side (the one she belongs to) in order to uplift another. To say racism doesn’t exist and BET is the cause shows just how clueless and ignorant she really is. Even white people know this isn’t true! She’s actually black and Mexican which would make her half black half rapist in the GOP’s eyes. She gets an L.
Robin, someone made this point on the Charlotte Rampling thread yesterday, and I think it applies here – that equality often feels like oppression to the privileged. Being “racist against whites” is a difficult argument to make, because historically they always have, and still do have all the power. It’s a double standard, yes…but “reverse racism” implies a level playing field, which simply doesn’t exist. In order for there to be a true case of “white racism” you first need to achieve “black equality”
Okay, she’s bleached her skin or something, right? Or is she wearing makeup 24/7 now to appear lighter? Because I remember her being a lot darker in Clueless – did a few Google image searches to confirm, and my memory isn’t failing me, she was definitely darker.
http://www.vladtv.com/images/size_fs/video-198565.jpg
That’s what I think.
Now THIS is what I might call aggressive posturing…
She is living proof that clueless was one of the great 90’s movies. I can still watch it despite her. Usually someone that awful kills a movie for me
Laughing at how some say Stacy’s getting too white, and some refer to Obama as black–truth is Obama is mixed–he is just as white as he is black. Obama is half white, or should I say half black?
You shouldn’t say anything at all.
Hehe
So she is officially a loony toons troll right?