Late last week, Amy Powell was fired from her position as head of Paramount Television. It was not some smooth retirement, nor was it a case of someone leaving an executive position for something better. Powell was seemingly fired for cause, and it happened very suddenly. What makes it interesting and noteworthy is that no one will say exactly what happened or what Powell said to get her sh-tcanned so quickly. Much like the Papa John’s situation, something happened on a conference call. And much like the Papa John’s situation, it seems like Powell was fired for being racist?
Five years after being tapped to lead the newly relaunched Paramount Television banner, Amy Powell is out. The news was announced Thursday via an internal memo from Paramount CEO Jim Gianopulos in which he outlined “multiple individuals” who raised “concerns around comments” made by the executive in a “professional setting, which they believed were inconsistent” with Viacom’s values. According to sources, the comments included racially charged language. Sources say the inciting incident occurred during a studio notes call for Paramount Network’s First Wives Club reboot, which is being penned by Girls Trip co-writer Tracy Oliver and will feature a predominantly black cast.
Powell, who is said to have been a favorite of Viacom CEO Bob Bakish, allegedly made generalizations about black women that struck some on the call as offensive. A complaint was filed to human resources, who with the legal department, investigated the claims and those involved on the notes call. Sources say Paramount considered discipline but decided to fire Powell after she denied the allegations.
Hours after Gianopulos’ memo to staff, Powell denied the allegations in a statement sent by her personal PR: “There is no truth to the allegation that I made insensitive comments in a professional setting — or in any setting,” she said. “The facts will come out and I will be vindicated.” Sources say Powell is considering taking legal action against the studio.
You can read Jim Gianopulos’ memo in full here at THR – he does not get into specifics about what Powell said on the call, and he praises her for her years of work for Paramount. So, I really want to know: what did this woman say, how many people heard her and why did she deny it? It feels like what she said was pretty bad, especially if there were people on the call who immediately went to HR to file a complaint. But then why would Powell deny it and then make noise about suing Paramount? Vulture did a thread about the firing and the reports of what Powell said, and the Hollywood Reporter entertainment journalist tweeted this:
I’m told she characterized black women in a way that was offensive to an employee listening in on a notes call for First Wives Club. Further when questioned she allegedly denied making those comments though others on the call said she did. https://t.co/WKKlMSZaDL
— Kim Masters (@kimmasters) July 20, 2018
Most outlets agree that this was all centered around the all-black TV reboot of First Wives Club, and showrunner Tracy Y. Oliver, who is African-American. Oliver criticized the behind-the-scenes process a few weeks ago, so it seems like maybe Oliver and Powell had been butting heads for the past month. But still, whatever Powell said in that meeting must have been BAD.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
I think it’s serious. Because there’s no way they would have fired her unless it was totally unacceptable and maybe even lawsuit serious.
My feeling is this, these big wig CEO’S wouldn’t fire their people unless there is evidence of wrongdoing and it would reflect badly on them. Prime example, Matt Lauer. He was NBC golden child and his behavior was egregious that he because a liability. My guess would be the same for her. She saod something or did something that was a liability. Just my guess though.
Sounds malicious, since there had been difficulties working together [her and black showrunnner]. “Shade.” Sounds like she was venting in an obscure way.
If that rumor didn’t exist, I’d ask if she just felt so comfortable w/her black relationships that she was overly familiar and said something she might say to a black friend. Sometimes whites are allowed to joke around w/good black friends but it might sound jarring to outsiders.
Not in this case, apparently.
She didn’t have to say the N word for her words to be racist. There are broad generalizations made about black women that are nothing more than racist dog whistles. She may truly believe she didn’t say anything racist, but she’s lying to herself. Good riddance.
Well, well. This is a story to watch.
I can’t wait to hear what Tracy Oliver has to say about this.
Personally, I applaud the firing. I am sick to death of racist behaviour and the people who think it’s perfectly acceptable.
This is what happens when you don’t have representation at the top. This is why Matt Damon’s statement on diversity and representation on the screen being enough is horse sh!t. This white woman believed because she gave the go-ahead for an all black First Wives club, that she was “woke” (I hate that word). She is a member of what I call “stealth racism.” These people who espouse little microaggressions under the guise of being a white person that’s inclusive. She probably has no black friends and sees black women as only capable of deep anger or sass.
This! What I was trying to say but you said so much more eloquently.
Robert Townsend was talking about this how many decades ago? You can have characters who are POC but only if they embody stereotypes.
IMO a lot of the people who are getting fired are not just because of the corporate worlds new found intolerance for racism , sexism etc . In many instances there is an overall pattern of behavior that can expose the company and the “incident ” is just a the proverbial straw that broke the camels back .
For Instance the Network knew exactly who Roseanne was BEFORE they rebooted the show , when they realized her a$$holery wasn’t going to stop and cost them more imagewise than what she was worth they cut her loose feigning some newfound integrity
The Same with the Papa John Guy who has been known for his racist shenanigans i.e NFL comments, for some time but the nword in mixed company ( cant convince me he hasn’t been slinging that word around before ) was his downfall
If this woman was worth more to them than her latest faux paux , they would have made her apologize . attend sensitivity training etc and keep her. They let her go for more than that comment , the comment was just that last straw/trigger
I think the Daily Mail said Powell dismissed Tracy Oliver as “an angry black woman.” And yes, I would say that statement is racist.
I’m actually encouraged that this type of firing/forced resignations are happening lately. It proves that, in spite of the dismal political cesspool we’re living in, that progress isn’t going in reverse. These types of firing are a direct result of public opinion. They know that the majority of folks simply aren’t going to tolerate racism or sexism, and they’re being pushed forward whether they want to be or not. Republicans have no souls, obviously, but the rest of America is getting stronger.
I heard she had said that black men had mother issues because most are raised solely by women.
From an HR perspective, I think if she owned up to it and apologized, they would have given her a suspension or would note it in her performance review. However, since she pulled a Trump (deny deny deny), they fired her for it. I think it’s especially bad because there were witnesses who can back up what she said.
She can go ahead and file that wrongful termination suit. I bet the discover process will lead to all sorts of things she doesn’t want exposed.
But “the angry black woman thing” IS a trope, a tired, overused trope in our cultire’s stotytelling. Acknowledging it’s existence isn’t racist. It’s possible she was citing its existence and saying “let’s not put more of this out there”, no? In which case, she was acknowledging a shortcoming in the industry and trying to do better, trying to make this re-boot with a mostly black cast NOT fall into stereotypical tropes about black women.
I have no idea about her or her leanings one way or the other, I just don’t think that acknowledging the existence of a racist trope makes her racist.