Whether it’s the corporate world, politics, sports, or entertainment, when it comes to consequences and accountability, the rules are always different for Black people. Look no further than the disappointing results of the 2024 presidential election for proof that rich white people don’t seem to worry about cancel culture.
During a recent conversation on their podcast, “We Don’t Always Agree,” “This Is Us” star Sterling K. Brown and his wife, actress Ryan Michelle Bathe got into an honest discussion about how cancel culture affects Black and white entertainers differently. They used the reactions to Kevin Hart’s resurfaced homophobic jokes costing him The Oscars hosting gig in 2019 and singer John Mayer’s weird, uncomfortable 2010 remark that his “d—k is sort of like a white supremacist,” as a comparison in how these situations pan out on each side of the fence.
The incidents are exactly the same, but it does lead to interesting questions about why Black people are always viewed under a much more negative lens. We don’t get the benefit of the doubt that others do.
“I have observed behavior of my white counterparts on set where people will get loud and, you know, frustrated, and it is couched as being passionate or just sort of like animated. Like, it’s given like a moniker that is not angry, right,” Brown said.
He’s not wrong. Actors like Jared Leto, Christian Bale and Joaquin Phoenix are known for being extremely method or intense with their roles, and no one bats an eyelash because it’s part of their aura. If Brown, or Jeffrey Wright, or Colman Domingo, were the subject of stories about on set rants, or weird “in character” interactions with co-stars, these incidents would not be brushed off as part of the artistic process.
“I’d see it happen—I go, ‘If I did the exact same thing, I’d not get the pass,’” he said. “Just by being Black in general, the level and amount of latittude you have for bad behavior, you have different consequences.”
He explained that his cautiousness extends to his interactions with women on set, as he knows he’s being watched more than his colleagues.
“When women come into my trailer on set,’You can leave the door open!’ Doors swing wide open. Anybody can stick they head in…because, like in my mind, it’s always like…I already felt like people were looking for a reason,” the Oscar nominee said.
Bathe expressed her frustration with the way some people use “cancel culture” to turn themselves into the victim.
“Cancel culture has been weaponized as a way for certain people to avoid accountability and then to help other people avoid accountability and say, ‘Well, this is just cancel culture coming for an innocent person’.. If cancel culture were a real thing, it would come for everybody equally,” she said.
Social media responded to the conversation with thoughts on how this problem exists in other walks of life and how it’s something Black people just can’t seem to avoid.
One person noted how this behavior isn’t exclusive to Hollywood, writing on X, “Anybody working in corporate America or any job where the higher ups are mostly white or non black you see stuff exactly like what he describes. This why my folks used to tell me I couldn’t do all the things my non blk friends would do bcuz the stakes and punishments for me would be higher and they usually were.”
Someone else pointed out how this is a common occurrence, posting, “Yep..happens on alot of jobs. I seen Caucasian throw temper tantrums. But let that black person show a hint of frustration or displeasure.....”
On an Instagram clip of his comments, another user expressed exhaustion at the double standard, replying, “Being passionate and having a ‘edge’ is only reserved for them; when we do it’s deemed divisive and dangerous.”
In case this is a new concept to you, look no further than the replies to the video on X to see how others never let Black people show their frustration with this country’s endless instances of racism. If a majority of Black folks are telling you this is something they deal with on a regular basis across all walks of life, then this is one of those times you should stop yelling and just listen to our concerns.