Karrueche Tran says she has felt discriminated against by Hollywood employers because of her decision to reconcile with her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown time and time again through the years.
During an interview with the BBC, the aspiring actress talked about the perception that she is weak because she continued to date Brown and how this, she believes, has affected her ability to book jobs in Hollywood.
"A lot of people think I am a weak individual because of past situations, and when it comes to business, sometimes people don't want to be involved with somebody like that. Which is understandable, but it sucks, because I'm not a weak person," Tran said.
Tran is ready to move on with her career and not be known as Brown's ex-girlfriend.
"I used to date him, and now, as I am growing into myself and maturing and getting my career together, I am starting to have my own name," Tran explained.
Even still, she knows that part of the game is building her character back up and clearing the air over what happened with Brown.
"I feel like I shouldn't have to explain myself to anybody because this is my life and I can do whatever I want. But in the same breath, it's like, now that I am trying to focus on my career and get my stuff together, I have to clear up certain things."
Tran seems to have a healthy understanding that she was introduced to the world—and to Hollywood casting agents—through her relationship with Brown. And that this, in a sense, actually gives her a leg up on other up-and-coming actresses. But it's nice that she explained how the spotlight she got because of her personal life cost her.
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Diana Ozemebhoya Eromosele is a staff writer at The Root and the founder and executive producer of Lectures to Beats, a Web series that features video interviews with scarily insightful people. Follow Lectures to Beats on Facebook and Twitter.