Quinta Brunson is one of People’s 2022 People of the Year. Well deserved, I feel. She’s made a great TV show, Abbott Elementary, that is both critically acclaimed and wildly popular. She acted immediately to make the popularity matter by getting school supplies to schools and raising the profile of many comedians. She’s been true to her hometown of Philadelphia and shown it in the best light possible. In her People interview she talks about Abbott, her confidence, and her upbringing. One thing she doesn’t talk about much? Her husband Kevin Jay Anik, whom she married in 2021. But that’s by design because Quinta wants to keep her marriage “sacred and safe.”
Her name means ‘fifth’ in Spanish: My name’s really simple. I’m the fifth child, and my parents [Norma Jean and Rick Brunson] weren’t necessarily creative, but I love it. My siblings [brothers Kwei and Kalid and sisters Njia and Kiyana] all have real names that mean things, and they have a lot to live up to. My name is just a number, and I could decide it meant whatever I wanted.
Instagram changed her life: I was doing improv around L.A. and broke. Very, very, very broke. A hearty meal was a banana and a Cup Noodles. If I could get both or get two bananas in one day, I was doing well. I was working at [an] Apple [Store], but I still loved comedy so much. At the time SNL was kind of a goal. Then Instagram added video. I loved making my friends laugh, and then it took off, and that kind of changed my life.
She’s always been confident: I think it’s always been there. I was a very confident kid. My parents always taught me to look at people and situations like everything’s equal. Nothing seems too intimidating to not be confident. I think the most intimidating situation I was in recently was meeting Malala [Yousafzai, the Pakistani education rights activist].On doing Oprah justice in Weird: When the script got sent to my agent, and they said Daniel Radcliffe was playing Weird Al, I was like, “Yeah, I would love to come hang with him.” And then they said Oprah, and I was like, “Whoa, hold on!” But I read it and thought I could do it justice. It wasn’t too serious, but it also wasn’t too dumb, because I didn’t want to insult Oprah or tarnish her legacy. The movie is so stupid, and I say that in the best way. I love dumb comedies. Austin Powers in Goldmember was my favorite movie growing up. My mom wanted to burn the DVD. She hates stupid stuff.
Husband Kevin is off limits: I don’t talk about my relationship that often, because it’s something that I like to keep sacred and safe. Nor do I bring him out to be analyzed or attacked by the world. We’ve had such a year together. He truly has been by my side and supportive every step of the way, so for him to be there with me at the Emmys and help me up to get my award and to be able to thank him was so special.
This tearful fan encounter: I don’t go out that much to public places. I have a little bit of social anxiety that I’m working through. The biggest risk I’ll take is Universal Studios, ’cause I kind of feel like that’s my turf, even though I have no right to say that. But I had a really interesting fan interaction at a party recently, where a girl came up to me and said she had a friend she was watching Abbott with before she passed away. One of the things her friend asked her to do was to finish the show. And now I’m crying at this party. Part of me was like, “Why would you tell me that right now?” But also I’m so happy she did. It put into perspective what a good comedy can do. The best thing I can hear is that it’s bringing people together.
I remember people were shocked to learn Quinta was married. I also remember there was some rumbling on Twitter about the fact that Kevin is white. I didn’t know Quinta was married or anything about Kevin, but I wasn’t shocked when I found out. Because I don’t know anything about Quinta besides her work and what I’ve come to learn in interviews. She really does keep her personal life on lockdown. For instance, she was asked again about the bit in which Jimmy Kimmel stayed “passed out” on stage during her Emmy acceptance speech. Once again, she was truly unbothered by it primarily because of her friendship with Kimmel. I had no idea they were such good friends prior to her success, either. It’s funny how much familiarity we assume when we like a person’s work so much.
Also, I posted the quote about Quinta playing Orpah in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story to give that movie another shoutout. She’s great as Oprah, it’s a great romp, watch it if you can. I love Quinta’s description of the script. She’s spot on.
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- WEST HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – SEPTEMBER 10: American writer, producer, comedian and actress Quinta Brunson arrives at The Hollywood Reporter and SAG-AFTRA’s 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ‘Emmy Nominees Night’ held at the Penthouse at 8899 Beverly on September 10, 2022 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 721675702, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Quinta Brunson, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
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- WEST HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – SEPTEMBER 10: American writer, producer, comedian and actress Quinta Brunson arrives at The Hollywood Reporter and SAG-AFTRA’s 74th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ‘Emmy Nominees Night’ held at the Penthouse at 8899 Beverly on September 10, 2022 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 721675706, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Quinta Brunson, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
Photo credit: People, Instagram and Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
She’s wise to protect her her relationship cause people have NO chill. When some found out that husband is white they tried criticizing her. Like she wasn’t “real.” That got shut down quickly. People can be so damn stupid with their nonsense.
I didn’t know she was married. So mission accomplished. She is doing what she needs to do to protect her relationship.
Seriously? Ugh
That’s ridiculous that people faulted her for having a white husband. Im not black, I’m a white Hispanic, so I know I might be speaking out of turn when I say this, but from what I’ve seen and heard throughout the years in American culture, there is very much an epidemic of successful, fiscally responsible black men (“the good ones”), only wanting to date/marry white or Asian women. Obviously not ALL work-focused, responsible black men fall into this pattern, but many do, certainly enough for it to be “a thing”, and I can only imagine how that must feel to black women. And what it means regarding the single black men who are leftover, after “the good ones” go off and marry white or Asian women.
I don’t know if the reasons I alluded to are the same reasons that Quinta married a white man, her reasons could have NOTHING to do with the dynamic I described above. But it is certainly an epidemic that is very real to WoC, and one that I personally saw affect one of my best friends, in the worst possible way. I just think that if people are going to criticize Quinta and claim that she’s not “real” for being with a white man, then that criticism had better be followed by some searing criticism of a certain segment of the black male population, who has rejected black women. That’s all.
All due respect Annalese you should sit the conversation out. A lot of issues you spoke of concerning Black men is a direct impact of systematic racism and poverty as well as the recapitalization of the penal system supported by rapid biases. Even with the disparity Black men are still polled as being great fathers and partners. Black men when they marry, will marry Black women at 88%. So in other words there is a lot of misinformation around Black men and women relationships grounded in racist biases and institutions.
she has such warm energy. she was great in the Weird Al movie, and it is hilarious! it’s free to stream and doesn’t even have ads. I can’t believe they made it in 18 days!
I love Abbott Elementary, I missed sitcoms for years and was so happy the format is back somewhat. It’s updated and relevant but still has all the elements of a good sitcom. I thought it was a shame that those nice 25 min episode shows seemed a thing of the past. Yay for sitcoms! Also love Home Economics.
I loved Abbott Elementary it’s a great show. Quinta looks stunning in that black and gold gown wow! Good for her for protecting her privacy.
She is just so delightful in every way. And so incredibly thoughtful about everything, which feels refreshing compared to a lot of other stars.
She’s so beautiful, and awesome.
Love both the sea foam dress lewk and the black and gold gown too Omg.
His great she keeps her private life private to keep it sacred and safe. I wonder why all celebrities don’t do that. Opening it up to the public just causes criticism and scrutiny because that’s how public life is. I just read Molly Shannon’s book and it struck me however bad social media is in some ways it has definitely opened it up democratically for talent with you tube, Instagram, Twitter. Molly Shannon is in her fifties so what thirty years ago she had to slip her picture under the doors of agents and finance her own stage show (and had to have it be successful) before she could get SNL scouts or anyone to look at her
Good for her for keeping her business HER business. She appears to have a good head on her shoulders, here’s to continued success.
Quinta reminds us why we like normal. It’s drama free and can be so enduring because of the familiar stories. I am a huge fan of her optimism on Abbott…the show really shines a positive light on people just trying to do better in life with some humor to sweeten life’s pot.
I love her and her show so much, and I’m glad she has set a boundary on her private life. It’s so smart and protective, and keeps the focus on her excellent work.
I LOVE that black and gold gown! It feels like a modern take on art deco or something.
I thought she was lesbian. Iirc she mentioned dating a girl back in her buzzfeed years.
So happy for her and her success. I see a lot of Black female performers are going this way. No one knew Lizzo had that fine dude and Issa Rae kept her relationship on lock. I like the idea of celebs being a little bit more secretive and protective of their relationships. It makes a lot of sense.
I admit I was thrown seeing a picture of her husband, because he uh, looked a lot like that shitty boyfriend on Shrill….that’s not the same guy, right? I hope?