Jameela Jamil Replies To Backlash Over Her Role On New Voguing Competition Show
Image via lev radin / Shutterstock.com
Jameela Jamil is facing backlash after a report said she was enlisted as the emcee and judge of Legendary, a new voguing competition show on HBO.
The article by Deadline said the actress would take on the roles of emcee and judge on the show. However, Jamil clarified that she will only be a judge.
As voguing took off in the LGBTQ community and became a part of the culture, many users were upset that a heterosexual female as Jamil took on a lead role in the show, potentially disarming LGBTQ media representation.
“This seems sort of ironic in that @jameelajamil is apparently taking the place of an already underprivileged group in Hollywood,” one user wrote.
Comic artist Adam Ellis questioned why Jamil agreed to “a job on a panel that should be populated with queer and trans people?”
The Good Place star then responded with a tweet correcting the article, reaffirming, “@Deadline says I am the [emcee] of this show! I am not. I am just one of the judges.” She also expressed her love for ballroom and said she wanted to “celebrate this beautiful community.”
The new show will feature contestants battling on teams called “Houses” in various tasks involving fashion, dance and, of course, voguing. According to Variety, Legendary will turn “modern-day ball culture into a competition.”
Hello! @DEADLINE says I am the MC of this show! I am NOT. I am just one of the judges. The brilliant @DashaunWesley is. With help from the fabulous @TheOnlyMikeQ I’m a long time fan of ballroom and just wanted to help this show get made to celebrate this beautiful community. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ot7SEYnZTr
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) February 5, 2020
Hi deadline, please credit @DashaunWesley as the MC. I am a judge.
— Jameela Jamil 🌈 (@jameelajamil) February 5, 2020
Look I get that we're all out here just trying to get a paycheck, but @jameelajamil how are you gonna work tirelessly on behalf of underrepresented people and then turn around and accept a job on a panel that should be populated with queer and trans people? https://t.co/iiCriF5YBt
— adam ellis (@moby_dickhead) February 4, 2020
I need folks to read the article, she’s clearly NOT the sole judge. @leiomy Maldonado and Law Roach are judges and are LGBTQ. It’s basically looking like the ‘Drag Race’ judge panel setup. Michelle Visage is cishet just like Jameela.
— La Kasaïenne 🇨🇩🇷🇼 (@Ms_Kapanga) February 5, 2020
I need folks to read the article, she’s clearly NOT the sole judge. @leiomy Maldonado and Law Roach are judges and are LGBTQ. It’s basically looking like the ‘Drag Race’ judge panel setup. Michelle Visage is cishet just like Jameela.
— La Kasaïenne 🇨🇩🇷🇼 (@Ms_Kapanga) February 5, 2020
@jameelajamil you have always been know to be warrior for what is right for those who are marginalized I hope you make the right decision and don’t take space away from someone needs too
— ✨SIS✨ (@ucancallmesis) February 5, 2020
A voguing competition hosted by a cis woman, groundbreaking 🙄 pic.twitter.com/EBaifHYkoY
— Benny ☮ (@ChilangoCub) February 4, 2020
Thanks a lot for the clarification!
— K M (@olgasergonova) February 5, 2020
Great to see the real picture is vastly different than it first seemed 🙌🏽
[via Variety, images via lev radin / Shutterstock.com]
