In Great Britain and Australia especially, there’s a cultural thing called Tall Poppy Syndrome. It’s usually invoked when a celebrity gets a lot of success, and the media/culture critics/fans start cutting the celebrity down or dragging the celebrity for doing too much, being too famous, etc. I’ve always believed that America doesn’t have such a rabid brand of tall poppy syndrome – we like it when people succeed because that’s part of what we believe is part of our national identity: that people who are successful have earned their success, they’ve pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, etc. But I have to admit… I’m seeing more and more tall poppy syndrome stuff strike American celebrities. And they’ve come for Tiffany Haddish.
At the Oscars, Tiffany was having the time of her life and it was a joy to behold. She was one of the brightest and most joyful stars in an otherwise dull evening. But to some people, she needs to do less, talk less, be less visible. Those people are haters, and they started tweeting @ her. And so Tiffany got up bright and early this morning to respond to them, because bless her. You can see all of her responses here. A sampling:
Looks like
to me you talking about someone else Oooohhhhh and its me I win! Thank you and God bless you with all the happiness you can handle.— Tiffany Haddish (@TiffanyHaddish) March 7, 2018
I am Tiffany Haddish always me. You should try it. Always be you its easier than being fake. Trust! You ever wonder why people are bitter? Because they been fake for so long. Also thank you for letting your 1200 followers know about me #Blessyourheart
— Tiffany Haddish (@TiffanyHaddish) March 7, 2018
Thank you I will try to make sure you get just that BooBoo small doses. Now I just want to say Thank you for introducing me to your 2603 followers. I hope no one tags you about Me in the future #Blessyourheart #nicetomeetyou
— Tiffany Haddish (@TiffanyHaddish) March 7, 2018
Wow I must have slept with your man you mad.
— Tiffany Haddish (@TiffanyHaddish) March 7, 2018
So funny to me, it was a Joke but I Love how serious you all are. I want to be number one in a man’s life. he has a lot of kids that would make me what number 8 or at best baby Mama 2. And as much as I would love to chitchat with Angie that is not what I want to be talking about.
— Tiffany Haddish (@TiffanyHaddish) March 7, 2018
It actually hurts me a little bit that someone like Tiffany – someone who brings so much joy and humor – is sitting there reading all of the bad sh-t on Twitter and actually taking the time to respond. Then again, Tiffany is not some kid, nor is she some cracked-out Lohan. She’s a mature 38-year-old woman who has been around the industry for a long time. She knows what she’s doing: she’s getting even more attention and exposure and from that, she’ll get even more work. Let this tall poppy grow and grow, peeps.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
‘And as much as I would love to chitchat with Angie that is not what I want to be talking about.’
Love.
Hopefully she has lots of people around her telling her she’s fab, and there is real confidence behind her bluster. Personally, love a strong woman with a personality who gives no F*cks.
She is a strong woman who has been through a lot. It’s easy to notice a difference in the composure of people who get famous as established adults versus those who get famous early. Team Tiffany!
I just saw her comedy show and she’s an Artist. She took a lot of risks with new material, she’s star who’s EARNED. I like her outrageous positivity- I’m so “wanty” of her genuine vibration, this time was MADE FOR TIFFANY.
For the most part she seems pretty harmless and fun. I agree that Tall Poppy Syndrome is a thing, but it seems to be more of a thing for famous women. Famous men seem to have to actually do really awful shit just to attract the same level of vitriol.
And minorities. Basically, successful people who aren’t straight cis white men will always have jerks lining up to tell them they’re getting above their station. And you know what? Eff those losers. (The jerks, not the people busy being successful against the odds.)
I’m not worried about her. She’s been through a lot, she knows her worth and has worked for everything she’s achieved. She’ll be just fine. Haters to the left.
Just love that dress on her. Perfect.
Grow haddish, grow. Lots of little souls watching you, looking up, growing themselves to one day stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before.
She’s one of those giants, just a few ppl left that need to adjust to the changing skyline.
Also, each of her clapbacks is dead accurate and a lesson on how to handle haters with candid grace.
Saying “I slept with your man”, ain’t graceful.
But it is SO ON POINT! And SO WHAT I WOULD HAVE SAID! Which is why I RIDE WITH TIFF!!!!
Except that’s not what she said. Did I miss something? She’s basically telling the person that they’re taking it WAY too personal.
Not graceful… FUNNY THO.
That’s not what she said.
Ha! Whenever I get crusty looks, I think, “did I kiss your boyfriend in high school”? It’s funny, because, why in the world do people pull resentment outta nowhere?? What’s wrong w all the misplaced bitterness? I don’t need it, so also deflect w a “not my problem” sense of humor.
Cardi B also liked to clapback. I find it both sad and funny.
I’m not sure if the backlash to Tiffany is Tall Poppy Syndrome or respectability politics. Perhaps a mix of both.
Cardi clapbacks are hilarious tho, this girl seems more bother by the critics
Tiffany Haddish backlash feels like a mix respectability politics and folks might just find her annoying. It’s a little sad that she ignored ALL the love she receives to focus on a few people who find her annoying.
Whatever, Tiffany, if you read this site. Let’s be friends.
That seems right. There’s almost kind of a class thing as well? Tiffany is a foster system kid, which means a lot to me as an orphan that she talks about that stuff. Growing up in the system is hard AF and the idea that foster system kids can make it is SO important. Also, I come from in between lower middle class/lower class, and I had to learn to really restrain myself as I class-hopped. Tiffany’s vivacity is familiar and true to me and I’m glad she never felt compelled to shackle her natural joy and emotion.
PPP – spot on! I have a foster niece and worry so much about her future, and Tiffany always give me hope, because she really shows foster kids can make it. I’m sure it takes incredible determination and some good luck along the way, but it shows that it can be done.
Social media, particularly Twitter, is a Pandora’s Box of nasty. Loads of trolls hiding behind a handle and bringing their worse selves. I don’t tweet because it’s a forum for showing your a$$ in public. It’s part of the celebrity business now, but it is deeply disturbing and unpleasant and in real life, these people would want a selfie and maybe an autograph—not one would say anything remotely like their tweets to her face as themselves.
@Elx I 100% agree. Those same people would be tripping all over themselves for a selfie with Tiffany. This poor girl lived such a horrible life growing up, in and out of the foster homes, taking care of her siblings because her mom was not able to due to the fact her step father tried to kill them. Let her enjoy her success. She was the main draw for me to see Girls Trip,! That movie was good but she made it 1000 times better.
If someone has a lot of followers, it’s a good strategy to “clap back” sound & loud. Surely she has someone to filter the dirge and work out a productive, comedic response.
It’s nice to see somebody enjoy her fame and have fun with it instead of acting like it’s such a drag and she’s too cool for it all. Probably some of her enthusiasm will fade as the negativity and intrusion takes hold but I hope she always has fun and never takes herself too seriously.
May she never lose that enthusiasm. She gives me serious Carol Burnett and Phyllis Diller vibes because of her humble beginnings, her appreciation and joy at being in the moment, and like Diller, arriving in this place when she isn’t in the ingenue/girl next door age range.
The vitriol coming from some people…yikes. I don’t know, she’s funny, and seems sweet.
The truth of the matter is that if she wants successful longevity she might have to tone it down. Look at JLaw so many people cant stand her now because of her antics and really it does get exhausting. I like her personality but media training is there for a reason. Ofourse she van still be herself, i personally hate when celebrities become robots like Beyonce and Cheryl Cole but there needs to be a balance.
Someone up thread talked about respectability politics being key to the discomfort people feel about TH. I think that’s true. I think she speaks without censoring herself and to some that is very scary since she “represents” a group. Her freedom is threatening to some. She also seems to not care about the white gaze, or she is not hampered by respectability.
She is very high energy and that is not everybody’s cup of tea, and so she can be exhausting to witness.
There was a scene in G’s T where she is acting–not as a comic–but as an actor, & I was blown away. She’s seriously talented. I can’t wait to watch her career develop.
But look at seasoned pros like Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly. They’re ridiculous when they’re promoting and interviewing, but it works because they’re performers who know what works. J Law is trying to give “real ness” that doesn’t quite work because it’s an angle. Tiffany is a longtime standup comedian, I think that she’ll be good.
I felt guilty when I read the first tweet because that is pretty similar to what I think about Haddish. She name drops A LOT. If I were famous, I would avoid her at parties because I don’t wanna turn into a funny anectode. She seems nice though so It is upsetting she is getting this much vitriol
i have the feeling most of her name drops are pre-arranged/approved though. like the beyonce thing – i don’t believe for one second that she talked about that without clearing it with her team
Celebrities are always gonna have ‘haters’ though. Even the most loved have them. She’s going to drive herself and others nuts if she thinks she has to clap back each time someone says something unfair about her. It’s part of life, just ignore it! Don’t search yourself if you don’t think you could handle it. I know I couldn’t, I would be doing the same thing she’s doing, but it’s not a good look.
I feel like a lot of it is coming from members of the Beyhive who didn’t like that Tiffany dropped some tea about how Bey was acting towards another woman getting too close to Jay at a party they all attended, and how apparently a few lyrics she raps in DJ Khaled’s new song “Top Off” featuring Future seem to elude to her now needing people to sign non-disclosures before they chill because of it. So now they think she is a gossipy broad.
Exactly!!! I don’t think most people realize how crazy Bey fans are!!!!
@ Jeangray I don’t get it some girl was getting close to jay and Tiffany talked about it. I still don’t get why Tiffany talking about it was such a big deal. We all know Jay fucked around on Beyonce . The “beehive”need to relax.
Good for her. Time and time again people want to limit someone else’s path to success based on some arbitrary rule regarding how things should be. After reading her book I’m happy for her. She deserves to enjoy herself. She has been grinding for years despite having a lot of messed up things happen to her. And despite her life experiences, she’s not bitter but thankful for all that she’s achieved. Let her capitalize on her market and fame because lord knows as a black female comedian, the system isn’t set up for her to succeed.
I had no clue who she was when introduced, but thought wowsers beautiful lady when she walked out in her slippers 🙂 Anyone who puts anything on social media will get hate, because that is the world we live in, sadly.
Exactly I don’t do Twitter barely do Instagram firstly I don’t have the time but exactly what you said many people on there just sitting waiting to have a go at someone. I wonder what kind of jobs people have to spend so many hours tweeting well then I think of 45!
The first and third tweets aren’t really hating on her. I belive that both are valid opinions (that many of us have on some artists) and weren’t even tagging or @/ing her. I’d assume she has better things to do than search for her name on twitter
She isn’t tagged in any of those which means she searched her own name. I like her and I think she is hilarious – my only laugh out loud moment of the Oscars but her calling out people and their follower numbers does make me cringe.
I
Love
Her.
Tiffish Forever!
Do you, gurl. Enjoy it and don’t take it too seriously
#TeamHaddish
She is smart and knows these people don’t have the sense to change the channel if they don’t like what they see/hear. I loved her on SNL. She always brightens the space she occupies. #Tiffany4Congress
“She is smart and knows these people don’t have the sense to change the channel if they don’t like what they see/hear.” Always this!
She’s not annoying; she’s refreshing! Tiffany should ignore the haters and stop reading all that shit. She is perfection and she needs to live her life joyfully, which apparently brings out the rage in jealous haters. For some, it must be hard to see a black woman succeed and they want to drag her down. Maybe not for others, but these people need to think that they are feeding into the negativity (not intentionally) that seeks to humble black women. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing. Reminds me of the haters of the wonderful Leslie Jones. For me, the very existence of talented, funny, real women like Tiffany and Leslie is like a balm in this poisonous age of Trump. For real.
I completely agree. It’s so refreshing to see women like Tiffany and Leslie enjoy their success and just be themselves unreservedly. It is so rare these days.
And I can’t help but root for Tiffany just knowing all of the things she went through as a child to get where she is today.
I will take celebs like Tiffany Haddish and Leslie Jones, who worked hard and paid their dues, over the silver-spoon, nepotism celebs any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Or those celebs who have their bodyguards carry them when they are fully capable of walking (Mimi and Bieber).
Plus, I suspect her candor will be her protection if some agent/exec/producer/director, etc. entertains the thought of trying something with her. Not only do I think she will cut them deep in person, but she will talk about it, whether it’s on the stage, on a talk show, Twitter/social media, etc.
I’m all for this, especially after enduring the Kathy Griffins, Chelsea Handlers, etc., who feign being an outsider but if they will trip over themselves to be on the inside. Tiffany seems to be having a blast and why the fcuk not! She was one of the bright spots in movies/television/radio (The Breakfast Club interview) last year.
She looks good a bit loud side? i heard about her here too Give credit where
it do its brad name calling ..
But Wow Ang is so controlling brad not bright as per their normal..lols
I’m sorry wait she is THIRTY EIGHT YEARS OLD??!!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?! My god she doesn’t look a day over 25 holy cow
The beehive came in full force after this lady.
What I’m about to say maybe too politically incorrect for some but I will say it anyway:
The tall poppy syndrome is definitely a thing in the black community in America. Just look: most, if not all, those Twitter accounts have pictures of black folks attached. When I started college in the mid 90s, my university required all of us black freshmen to take an Intro to Black Studies class. We talked about the tall poppy syndrome in that class although it was termed “crabs in a bucket,” as in, if a crab gets close to climbing out of the bucket, the other crabs will drag it back down. And I’ve heard stories over the years where someone black starts making a lot of money and/or becomes famous and they want to stay in their same neighborhood and help out but they get robbed by those same neighbors they’re trying to help, so they move away. Sad but often true.
I like that she clapped back it was funny. People did the same shit to Leslie Jones.
Love Leslie Jones, she stood her ground and won. It was the most racist of racist shit and she won. I think Tiffany should just ignore her haters. They will drag her down.
Just came here to say the tall popppy syndrome can be true in the UK and Auz but I am a person who sees and has worked with famous and rich people and some of this is because they become the arrogant ar****holes that deserve being taken down a peg or three..
You can be successful without the don’t you know who I am? routine and that is why here and especially in Auz they do get their comeuppance as they are ridicously overpaid and over worshipped comepared to people who nurse or in caring professions or indeed do valuable work for society…
I do not understand why we cannot look at the society a different way and question are sports and movie stars worth so much?
Then deal with someone like a British model who throws tantrums and admire her when she is just a clothes horse and a unpleasant one at that
You beat me to it. Tall poppy syndrome here in Oz is reserved for people that have achieved success and then become so ego driven. For instance it didn’t happen with Olivia Newton John or Hugh Jackman, but it did with Russell Crowe.
I want that tall poppy to grow into the biggest, tallest poppy tree, defying everything we know about poppies. Forget the rules and dream big you unicorn!
She is crazy
This always happens though. There is always some “new” star who ends up getting overexposed and thus a backlash starts to happen. And some of them werent even THAT BAD. Obviously it sucks to hear criticisms/hate especially when you’re finally having your moment in the sun. But, this is something that all celebrities are gonna deal with you. Not everyone is gonna like you. And you certainly cant spend all your time trying to make everyone like you either.
Don’t feed the trolls.
People are treating her a lot like they do Jennifer Lawrence. “Fun in small doses” I like both of them, and cant help thinking outgoing and bubbly men arent treated this way.
IssaRae would never for real though 😛
Just want to say, ISSARAE4EVA!!
That is all.