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Sheryl Lee Ralph says what’s on her mind and I love it. She’s very honest and direct. Last I wrote about her, she called out Jimmy Kimmel for his disrespectful actions during Quinta Brunson’s Emmy win. And now she’s calling out the Kardashians by name and other people who appropriate/emulate Black features and style. A reporter asked her about advice to her younger self on the Golden Globes carpet and Sheryl answered with the general message of loving yourself the way you are and some specific lip injection shade.
Sheryl Lee Ralph appears to be throwing a dig at the Kardashians.
While walking the red carpet at the 2023 Golden Globes on Tuesday (January 10), the 66-year-old Abbott Elementary actress was asked by by a reporter what advice she would give to her 15-year-old self.
In her answer, Sheryl shaded the Kardashian-Jenner ladies.“There’s nothing wrong with your nose. There is nothing wrong with the shade of your skin,” Sheryl told InStyle. “There is nothing wrong with the way your hair grows out of your head.”
She continued, “And there is certainly nothing wrong with your lips because there will be some people called Kardashians and they will pay $10,000 for your lips. Hang in there 15-year-old Sheryl Lee Ralph! You’re good!”
After her comments went viral, Sheryl seemingly doubled down on her interview, tweeting later that night, “I said what I said. Now, I’m going to bed. Goodnight! ”
I chuckled a bit that Sheryl’s doubling down included a rhyme. She said what she said and now she’s getting her rest. Sheryl was only asked about what advice she’d give herself and maybe the KarJenners caught a stray bit of shade here, but she’s not wrong. Euro-centric beauty standards of straight hair, light skin, etc, are really damaging to young Black girls. The way those white features are idealized is harmful and I definitely could have used Sheryl’s advice as a teen when I was insecure about those things. The message was so internalized I didn’t even realize at the time it was anti-Black. And it’s still damaging that all those attributes are celebrated on white women who come by them surgically instead of the Black women who have them naturally. And yes, Sheryl’s completely right that people pay good money for a pale imitation of these lips. No lies detected here.
photos credit: Getty and Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
No lies, whatsoever. And celebrate your booty too. People pay top dollar to get what BW got naturally.
+1
BOOM! Sheryl Lee Ralph you’re 100% right on this. I got your back! ; – )
This. I love her for these comments. The world rejects Black women, but covets and commodifies our features as trendy.
👏🏽👏🏽Exactly
The verbal delivery of this is 100 times more of mic drop than it even appears in print!
Yes! Magnificent delivery! As if I didn’t love her enough already.
Love it and her. Ms Sheryl Lee Ralph is an icon and beautiful, outside and in. Growing up, SLR was one of the very few dark skinned Black women I saw on TV. Her beauty was what was emphasized first, but it did a lot for dark skinned Black girls like me. The Euro beauty standard and having light skin was and is constantly reinforced, even down to available kinds of makeup. Its why Rihanna’s Fenty makeup line is such a success. Some companies still haven’t gotten the memo that Black women of all skin tones spend a ton of money on makeup too!
SLR’s intelligence and self confidence was also refreshing. I was blown away the first time I heard her speak outside of a movie/tv role. I’m so happy that she’s getting the accolades she has long deserved.
Yep!
Love this! I’ve watched her since I was a little girl and always thought she was gorgeous. It’s devastating what this society does to young Black girls.
As a very white girl with a big booty and a thin upper lip, I agree with her. Women, but especially women of colour, need more of this. Love what we have cause other women will be paying top dollar to emulate. I tried lip injections (half a dose) and it looks son unnatural I hated it.
I’m adding the “I said what I said…” quote to my email signature…
Love her. And she could have added ‘paid for their derrieres’ to the list. Lol
Now they’re studies showing links to ovarian and other cancers due to hair straighteners, in black women.
I love her so much, and she is 100% right.
I’m also loving that she is having this big career success and winning awards. The whole show and cast is so good!
Black beauty. 💖