Photo by: Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic
Keke Palmer will not permit anyone to use her professional accomplishments as a yardstick for success or as an illustration of “how colorism plays out in Hollywood!”
Following a comparison to fellow actress Zendaya that went viral on social media, the 28-year-old actress defended herself as an “incomparable talent.”
“I’d like someone to do a deep-drive on the similarities and differences between Keke Palmer and Zendaya’s careers,” the viral tweet states. “This may be one of the clearest examples of how colorism plays out in Hollywood. They were both child-stars, but their mainstream popularity is very different.”
Source: Todd Williamson/BBMA2016/Getty Images for Billboard / Getty
Palmer and Zendaya’s respective careers were linked in a tweet from July 23 to illustrate “how colorism plays out in Hollywood.”
Before embarking on careers that included music, Emmy victories, and starring in Hollywood tentpoles, both performers got their start on well-liked children’s TV shows.
JC Olivera
“A great example of colorism is to believe I can be compared to anyone,” Palmer exclaimed. “I’m the youngest talk show host ever. The first Black woman to star in her own show on Nickelodeon, and the youngest and first Black Cinderella on broadway. I’m an incomparable talent. Baby, THIS, is Keke Palmer.”
In a later post, Palmer added, “I’ve been a leading lady since I was 11 years old. I have over 100+ credits, and currently starring in an original screenplay that’s the number one film at the box office #NOPE. I’ve had a blessed career thus far, I couldn’t ask for more but God continues to surprise me.”
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Palmer’s fans responded to her reply with intensity.
One commenter tweeted, “What Keke said is that you’re comparing when there’s really no comparison. It’s not that colorism doesn’t exist, or that Zendaya doesn’t have privilege. She is respected, has longevity, and has possibilities because of who she is, but you see a victim when there is a victor.”
Another fan of Palmer tweeted, “Keke cleared! She said discourse dolls PIPE DOWN. y’all really tried to make such an important moment in her career about Zendaya. Colorism is real & should be talked about *extensively* but if those convos only happen when you see dark skin BW excelling, something is wrong.”
The UFO thriller Nope, directed by Jordan Peele and starring Palmer with Daniel Kaluuya and Steven Yeun, took first place at the box office on its opening weekend with $44 million.
Source: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty
Even if it came in below expectations, that number represents a success for one of the summer’s only original R-rated studio films. Palmer’s main performance has received accolades from all corners.
“Kaluuya, so sly, communicating mostly through his sharp gaze, and Palmer, whose fast-break aggro style acquires more heart as the movie goes on, make the Haywoods adult siblings we feel invested in,” Owen Gleiberman, a film critic stated.
Keke has always been that GIRL!
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