Keke Palmer has been in the business since she was a kid, so she’s seen almost every facet of the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, her longevity and popularity doesn’t protect her from being the target of racist comments on set. During an interview with the Los Angeles Times about her new memoir, “Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative,” the singer/actress reveals a stunning moment from her time on the 2015 horror comedy, “Scream Queens.”
As two co-stars, one of whom she refers to as “Brenda,” were having a dispute. Keke tried to intervene and calm things down, adding that they should “have fun and respect each other.” In response, Brenda allegedly told her, “‘Keke, literally, just don’t. Who do you think you are? Martin f——— Luther King?’”
In her book, she addresses the moment, writing, “It was such a weighted thing that she said, but I didn’t allow that weight to be projected on me, because I know who I am. I’m not no victim. That’s not my storyline, sweetie. I don’t care what her ass said. If I allow what she said to cripple me, then she would.”
As you would expect, a story like this has the internet in a frenzy. We may not know exactly who Keke is talking about here, but social media definitely has ideas for who they think “Brenda” is. As far as Black Twitter is concerned, Emma Roberts and Lea Michele are the leading suspects.
One person noted that Instagram may hold the biggest clue, writing in part, “Not that social media follows mean anything, but Keke follows almost all of her Scream Queens co-stars on Instagram *except* for Lea Michele.”
Another user is getting a different vibe, posting, “Everyone is saying Lea Michele but this is kinda Emma Roberts coded.”
At least one fan thinks the case is closed, writing, “It’s Lea ain’t no need for investigation its Lea…”
As if that wasn’t enough, the “Nope” star wasn’t done spilling “Scream Queens” tea. She also discusses the time that series co-creator Ryan Murphy yelled at her after she missed a day of filming due to a scheduling miscommunication.
Palmer had previously been granted the day off, then the production schedule changed and she decided to keep her previous obligation and not reschedule things. Clearly this misunderstanding didn’t sit well with Murphy, as the “One of Them Days” actress claims he “ripped’ into her” over the missed shoot. She thought she would become one of his regular collaborators, but the incident put a stop to that happening.
“I’m still not sure Ryan cared, or got it, and that’s okay because he was just centering his business, which isn’t a problem to me,” she writes in the book. “But what I do know is even if he didn’t care, and even if I never work with him again, he knows that I, too, see myself as a business.”
Black Twitter is firmly Team Keke, reminding Murphy what days off are and that you don’t get to treat her disrespectfully.
One fan reminded everyone that Keke has never had a questionable reputation when it comes to on set behavior, writing on X, “already hated ryan murphy but everybody knows keke has been a consummate professional who is about her business since she won that spelling bee… he played in a black woman’s face -and for what?”
Another person didn’t beat around the bush while explaining where their support lies, posting, “I believe keke 100% ryan murphy always had a negative and dark aura.”
Alongside a screenshot of a story about Mo’Nique waiting for apologies from Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, someone else, asked a very valid question about the industry, writing, “Why do they always try to bully black women into working for free and then blacklist them when they don’t.”
In case you need to hear more from Keke Palmer and see what other tea she spills, her memoir, “Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative,” is out Tuesday, Nov. 19.