Issa Rae has been gracing our television screens with her hit show Insecure for three seasons so far. The writer and actor has immediately positioned herself as one of the brightest rising stars in Hollywood. Her show, which examines the complexities of being a black woman in the United States in a frank and multifaceted way, has won accolades far and wide. But there’s one person Issa Rae doesn’t want accolades from.
In an interview with Glamour she talked about an encounter with former First Lady Michelle Obama:
She had just finished watching the finale, and she was like, ‘That fakeout—how could you do that? I thought you and Lawrence were going to live happily ever after.’ I was like, ‘You really watch it?’ She was like, ‘Yes. Sasha and Malia put me on to it.’
She went on:
It was like talking to my auntie. It bums me out that I will never have that feeling again of the First Family fucking with us so hard and getting us. If Melania [Trump] said that to me, I would be like, ‘Well, I guess it’s canceled. We’re not making this show. It’s not ours anymore.’
Rae was addressing who the show represents and whose story it tells, and how she doesn’t want that co-opted by an administration known for racism, bigotry, and not-so-subtle nods toward white supremacy.
Melania Trump’s spokesperson didn’t quite take it in stride:
Alert: FYI @IssaRae, @FLOTUS likes your show! @HBO @PageSix @glamourmag @theinquisitr https://t.co/qlNh7LmtsU
— Stephanie Grisham (@StephGrisham45) September 5, 2018
Which prompted this great response from Rae:
Melania or the double?
Rae’s tweet has since been deleted but The Grio nabbed a screenshot.
Issa Rae's response to Melania liking #InsecureHBO is everything! https://t.co/FS0HzgvvyX pic.twitter.com/JB2P9yC65f
— theGrio.com (@theGrio) September 6, 2018
Which is, of course, a nod to the infamous Melania body double conspiracy theory.
People were here for it:
— Proxima Midday (@cookiemonsterm8) September 5, 2018
— Jordan (@jordansdiamonds) September 5, 2018
Help pic.twitter.com/UvCSdKD0cb
— Bon Bagay✨ (@Kamifaine) September 5, 2018
— COREYOGRAPHY (@djcoreycraig) September 5, 2018
And they were loving the shade:
Issa i fully support this shade you rendered. pic.twitter.com/gCcdWM7Auu
— alexis. (@only1alexis) September 5, 2018
I just took a quick break and you have ended me for the day. pic.twitter.com/C3pHvX0C4W
— Shirley W. (@ShereseWms) September 5, 2018
— Randy (@Randycomesup) September 6, 2018
— xim_fpm (@fpm_zim) September 5, 2018
Issa Rae: 1, Melania Trump: 0.
