Creed III is coming out this weekend and Michael B. Jordan is making the rounds, doing interviews and screenings and premieres. He starred in and directed this one and he’s working hard! But not so hard that he forgot a grudge. MBJ attended a screening a few days ago and spotted a host/journalist with whom he went to high school. This person, Lore’l, apparently teased him back in the day and called him a “corny guy” more recently. And MBJ did not let it slide and referenced it when she approached him for an interview.
Michael B. Jordan is speaking his mind.
On Thursday, the actor, 36, went to a fan screening of his latest film, Creed III, when he spotted a former classmate ready to interview him on the red carpet who used to bully him as a kid.
“Oh yeah, I was the corny kid, right?” he said as The Morning Hustle host Lore’l approached him for an interview stating they go “all the way back to Chad Science [Academy] in Newark.”
Jordan’s comment referenced a 2021 episode of The Undressing Room podcast in which Lore’l and podcast hosts Eva Marcille and Dominique da Diva spoke about his then relationship with model Lori Harvey, calling him a “nice, corny guy.”
During the same episode, she also added that they used to tease the actor because he shares the same name as NBA legend Michael Jordan.
“We went to Chad Science [Academy] together in Newark, and to be honest with you, we teased him all the damn time because his name was Michael Jordan. Let’s start there, and he was no Michael Jordan,” she expressed. “And he also would come to school with a headshot. We lived in Newark. That’s the ‘hood. We would make fun of him like, ‘What you gonna do with your stupid headshot!?’ And now look at him!”
While she then told the actor during their red-carpet encounter that she was “misquoted,” adding, “but yeah, [you are] obviously killing things out here,” she later joked about it on her Instagram page, sharing a variety of snaps from the event adding, “I always come with receipts….”
She added further along in the post’s caption: “Godspeed @michaelbjordan but y’all go see Creed III tho directed by my old “pal” #whoscappin Monday on @morninghustleshow you don’t wanna miss this one @godspeed”
Awkward… But honestly, MBJ holding a grudge — as if I didn’t already know he was a man after my own heart. Of course people who attended school and stuff with celebs will have little anecdotes to share. But if you’re also working in the entertainment industry, perhaps be careful of the ones you share publicly if you want any potential future interviews to go smoothly. Like, Lore’l is not just a host who called him corny, but someone who mocked him in high school and then mocked him again later. Of course MBJ is going to remember that! Corny isn’t some horrible insult, but it’s not exactly nice. And if she used to tease him, that makes it even worse, movie star or not. And I don’t think the “now look at him” comment is redeeming at all. In fact, it seems a little patronizing. Anyway, Team MBJ on this one.
Note by CB: Peridot didn’t see this ad campaign yet or I’m sure she would have wrote about it. Damn!
Photos credit: Cat Morley/Avalon
Saw the movie last night, it was great! Acting was very good, Jonathan Majors is amazing. I learned only after that Michael directed the movie, quite impressive for a first movie to handle such a big franchise. Good for him!
And lol at this video, he definitely remembers this and I don’t blame him, it’s cute
Is this man a Virgo😂? I’ve worked with some child actors on sets and a lot of them have actually talked about being teased and even bullied at school about their acting. Sounds like that comment maybe reminded him of some things.
As a Virgo, this just makes me love him more
“Corny” isn’t the worst insult especially when someone is in love but the teasing every day in high school because of your name would really bug me. Team MBJ for remembering and not letting them rewrite history and play buddy/buddy now that he’s big time.
Right?! Reminds me of the running joke from Office Space. Your name is Michael Bolton? Are you related?! 🤣
@NORMADES Calling a Black man “corny” was a definite insult, and usually reserved for guys many girls typically wouldn’t be bothered with. Only this “corny” guy became a hot Hollywood movie star and was recently named as one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive! Ouch! I’m embarrassed for her but love how he called her out.
The nerve if this lady. She used to mock him in high school and now wants an interview pretending they’re all good. I wish every kid who was made fun of could shove their success in their bully’s face.
She said to him that she was ‘misquoted’. Lady, just own up. She could’ve taken the opportunity to say ‘well, I certainly got it wrong, didn’t I?’ or something but nope.
I loved the look on his face as she begins talking. Oh I love a fellow grudge holder. I can’t wait to see this movie. The previous Creed films were great and this one is getting great reviews!
Haha yes and his whole body language. I will talk to you to promote my movie but I will keep facing away and will welcome any interruptions
That suit is incredible. I wish I had a reason to buy one but I am sure it costs 3 arms and a leg. Also I bet that woman never expected karma to come at her on the red carpet
Most school bullies never learn. They never fucking learn. Good for him for not playing kiss ass. I love the honesty that a heart-felt grudge brings out.
None of us were perfect in high school. We were literal children running around as giant balls of insecurity trying to act grown and find our place in the world. It’s pretty common to say/do some unkind things along the way.
The difference is that most of us mature into adults who recognize “wow, I was a dick to that kid back then.”
A select few keep it up decades later, go onto podcasts to tell the world, and never seem to feel regret for making fun of a kid OR adult.
It must feel good to know he’s richer and more successful than this school bully.
So she called him corny for adoring and truly caring for Lori. That was her downfall, to me. In a time where women can’t even walk to the sidewalk of their home to mind they business, she is out here saying that a man respecting a woman is corny. I totally got what she meant by that comment and so did Michael.
I’m excited for Creed III.
“What you gonna do with your stupid headshot?”
She admits saying this to the kid who, while in high school, was creating the incredible heartbreaking character of Wallace in The Wire AND Erica Kane’s adopted stepson Reggie Porter Montgomery on All My Children? He was already putting that headshot to use.
No, lady, that gorgeous man is NOT your pal.
And MBJ, I still want a comedy road trip movie with you and AMC co-star Amanda (Joanie) Seyfried.
As a side note, Michael was the second actor to play Reggie. He followed….the amazing Chadwick boseman RIP 😢 The two would later set sparks off each other as killmonger and tchalla (RIP) in Black Panther.
I love his level of petty.
There’s absolutely nothing I wouldn’t say to throw in a former classmates face.
Good for him.