Last week, Amanda Seales’ Club Shay Shay interview dropped, along with no shortage of interesting revelations. During the interview, for example, she reflected on just how far she’s gone to help out her Black former partners. She brought up Boldy James as an example, claiming to have previously spoken to a parole officer for him. Seales even accused him of being in debt to her.
“If I hate Black men, I want a refund, Shannon,” she told Sharpe, shutting down any rumors that she “hates” Black men. “You know how many brothers I have lifted up? I want a refund!” She went on, listing some of the instances where she went out of her way to help out her exes. “I’ve done paid probation fees because n***as could rap and I want them to be able to live in their talent and their truth,” she explained. “I done spoke to a damn P.O. [probation officer] to vouch, Boldy James. And you owe me money.”
Further details of Seales’ relationship with Boldy James remain unclear, though he did rap about her on his track “Guilt” in 2021. Back then, he referred to her as her character in My Brother and Me, Miss Wilburn. “Hunnid a G, ‘member I got fronted the key/ ‘Fore the bag came, my gas tank was under the E/ Life took a ill turn on that Sunderland spree/ Now I’m f*ckin’ Miss Wilburn from ‘My Brother and Me’,” he rhymed.
Elsewhere in her interview, she also reflected on the other artists she’s dated, like Pusha T and Lupe Fiasco. “As you can see, the rappers that I have dated are very great MCs, because I have high quality,” she said. What do you think of Amanda Seales’ recent appearance on Club Shay Shay? What about her accusing Boldy James of owing her money? Are you surprised? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
The fallout from Amanda Seales’ Club Shay Shay interview with Shannon Sharpe is still coming. Seales made waves last week for her interview, where several subjects were talked about with countless reactions from fans. Seales has checked host Shannon Sharpe for attempting to downplay her experiences with racism. Sharpe’s performance in the interview drew criticism from viewers who said Sharpe seemed unempathetic to Seales throughout. Seales also took to Instagram to address Sharpe, dismissing her claims of having Autism. The interview was filled with controversy and content for fans to chew on.
Shannon Sharpe, seemingly unaffected by the criticism, discussed the interview with Chad Ochicinco and Gilbert Arenas. The trio delved into the relationship issues that Seales had candidly shared in the interview. Arenas, a former basketball player turned podcaster, offered his analysis on Seales’ dating life. Seales, not one to shy away from a challenge, responded to Arenas’ comments, sparking another round of discussion in the ongoing controversy.
Amanda Seales Responds To Gilbert Arenas’ Comments
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 12: Amanda Seales (HBO Insecure) during her game show at The Apollo Theater on November 12, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Shahar Azran/Getty Images)
Gilbert Arenas said of Amanda Seales not being married, “As educated as she is, there’s a standard of a man that she’s looking for. If they’re not on the same education level as her, she’s gonna look down on [him].” he continued, “If they’re more educated than her, then they’re talking down to her. So these are the type of women that will typically be single because they can’t find the equal partner to who they are.” Arenas’s dating analysis was interesting, but ultimately, it was just his personal opinion and not a larger commentary on the psychology of dating and marriage.
Amanda Seales responded to the comments on social media, saying, “Why is Gilbert Arenas even talking about me? I’m too smart to find a good man? That’s not even a thing. That’s an unfortunate statement to make.” She concluded, “I don’t even know what that’s trying to say about men. And the truth is I’m not trying to find a good man. A good man will find me. I’m talking to somebody right now.” Seales is used to being criticized because of her strong will and personality. Overall, Seales’ interview on Club Shay Shay seems to have been a confidence booster to the comedian and actor as she responds to all the naysayers.
It’s been almost three years since HBO’s Insecure finished airing, and the critically acclaimed show continues spawning new fans. It is often named among the best comedy drama shows of the last decade, and rightly so. Its characters, and the actors who portrayed them, are also greatly loved by fans. However, it seems the chemistry and friendship some characters shared in the show does not exist in real life. For example, it’s been just about confirmed that Issa Rae and Amanda Seales are not the biggest fans of each other. Seales recently appeared in another viral episode of Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay. There, she spoke extensively about her and Issa’s failed friendship.
Amanda Seales Addresses Feud Rumors On Club Shay Shay
On April 24, 2024, an episode of Club Shay Shay featuring Amanda Seales premiered on YouTube. In the interview, the actress spoke about several interesting topics. However, the subject getting the most attention is what happened between Issa Rae and Amanda Seales. The two were co-stars on Insecure and were friendly a few years ago. Surprisingly, however, over the years, their relationship soured as they worked together on the set of the hit show. Many fans have noticed a distance between the two for some time, but it has been all speculation until now.
What Happened Between Amanda Seales & Issa Rae?
INGLEWOOD, CA – JULY 15: (L-R) Amanda Seales, Yvonne Orji, executive producer and star Issa Rae, Jay Ellis and Natasha Rothwell attend a block party celebrating HBO’s new season of “Insecure” on July 15, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for HBO)
According to Amanda Seales, the rift between her and Issa Rae was first made apparent in 2019. She narrated to Shannon Sharpe how Vanessa Anderson, Rae’s publicist, barred her from entering into an Emmys party for Black actors in 2019. Subsequently, two days later, the Insecure creator reached out to Seales. However, she allegedly only claimed not to have anything to do with what happened and asked if Seales was willing to talk to Anderson.
“I’ve never talked about this publicly because it’s always been incredibly important to me to protect Issa,” Seales said. “However, there’s just been enough instances at this point where I should have been protected by Issa, and I wasn’t,” she continued. According to Seales, being so protective of Issa Rae was becoming detrimental to her. “There’s a whole narrative that is completely false that people keep spinning. They keep saying, you know, that I’m this mean girl on this set, that I harmed these people on this set. I just want to point out something very basic. How can I be a mean girl on a set that ain’t my set? How? It’s your show. You are my boss. I don’t even have the capacity to be the mean girl here because you can fire me,” she continued.
Unfortunately, the tension between the two actors only grew from that point onwards. Their relationship did not improve. Instead, it deteriorated to the point where other castmates could tell things weren’t great between them. “Everybody knows what’s going on. They don’t say nothing to me. And that’s just f*cking mean. It’s mean,” Seales said. Speaking further on the topic, she shared, “By the end of the show, you know, there were just certain scenarios where I had to really always be the bigger person and be the balm to the situation. And in Season 5, she just came out of her face at me one time too many and I just chose to stop being the balm because the show was wrapping.” When Sharpe asked Seales what she did, Seales replied, “Nothing, I just stopped communicating.”
Afterward, Sharpe mentioned that many people consider Issa Rae to be very empowering to women, but Amanda Seales disagreed. “She wasn’t empowering to me. [Issa] didn’t feel like I was needed. She didn’t feel like I deserved to be protected,” Seales said. “I’m only giving a portion of the situation. But that was my experience. And nonetheless, I have still always protected her because I felt like it was my responsibility to do so. But it is not.”
Issa Rae has not commented on Seales’s allegations at this time. However, fans are anticipating her reaction if it ever arrives.
Actress, comedian, and TV personality Amanda Seales joined Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay for an extensive three-hour discussion. During the conversation, Seales delved into quite a bit of detail about her life and career thus far. There were more than a couple of bombshells revealed during the discussion that have since gone viral. In true Amanda fashion, there were also important conversations about racism, bias, and mental health. In fact, social media has been pretty united in claiming that perhaps Sharpe was not the best interviewer for someone like Seales. Nonetheless, here are some of the biggest takeaways from Amanda Seales’ appearance on Club Shay Shay.
During her time on Club Shay Shay, Amanda Seales addressed her rumored conflict with Issa Rae. Despite speculation that their issues originated during their time on Insecure, Seales clarified that it was Rae’s publicist who initially had an issue with her. However, Seales believes this snowballed into Rae failing to protect her. Reflecting on their rumored conflict during the series’ production, she said, “So, I’ve never talked about this publicly because it has always been incredibly important to me to protect Issa. Because I know that Issa is doing something within this business that so few people get to do. And it’s not something I desire to do… She wasn’t empowering to me. She didn’t feel like I deserved to be protected. But that was my experience. And nonetheless, I have still always protected her because I felt like it was my responsibility to do so. But it is not.”
Her Autism Diagnosis
In the three-hour interview with the retired athlete-turned-podcaster, Amanda Seales disclosed that she is on the autism spectrum. She described her current state as one of evolution, acknowledging that she has been receiving a mix of new information and criticism simultaneously. She stated: “I was recently diagnosed as someone who has autism spectrum disorder which is very difficult to identify in Black women because of racism. What it typically means is that your brain functions in a different way, so you’re neurodivergent. When you take the test, you’re like ‘Hold up! I’ve been thinking my whole life that this was a problem.’ The fact that I have to be doing things all of the time to be stimulated. It’s literally called stimming. These are small things that are indicative of how your brain functions in a very particular way. It’s also atypical to the way our society functions.”
This particular discussion has since garnered criticism. During the show, Sharpe questioned Seales on whether she had received a professional autism diagnosis, to which she responded, “Yes. There is a clinical diagnosis for autism.” This statement, which has been translated to Seales, in fact, not receiving a clinical diagnosis, raised eyebrows. Nonetheless, she took to social media soon after to clarify that she had not been officially diagnosed by a doctor.
Amanda Seales has often been referred to as headstrong and direct. On the podcast, she explained the origins of her confident demeanor, tracing it back to her gymnastics and theater roots. Reflecting on her mindset, Seales revealed that she was heavily influenced by her coach, theater director, and mother, who pushed her rigorously and held high expectations for perfection. She also mentioned developing a strong sense of professionalism from a very young age. Recollecting those times, she stated, “That’s what I come from, people expecting you to be at your best when they’re not looking. That’s how I’ve always operated but you go through life and you realize that’s not how everybody operates.”
Experiencing Racism On Set
Some of the most viral moments from Amanda Seales’ time on Club Shay Shay revolved around the topic of racism. Sometime during their conversation, Seales discussed her experience as a former Disney child star. She recalled incidents where she was called slurs by her white peers on set. As the only Black girl present, Seales considered this behavior to be racist. When Shannon Sharpe questioned her experience by suggesting that kids are not accountable for such behavior due to their age, Seales emphasized that it was indeed a form of racism, regardless of the perpetrators’ age. Frustrated, she said: “So, you have no problem with the children that were cursing out Ruby Bridges? And the Little Rock Nine? Do you think that was just them being kids?”
Seeking Therapy
On Club Shay Shay, Amanda Seales admitted that she struggled to comprehend why some people didn’t like her. She then disclosed that she sought therapy to address this issue, and credited therapy with enhancing her awareness of how others perceive her thoughts. “I started going to therapy because I was like, people kept telling me that no one likes me, and I do not understand it,” she said. “At some point, I thought I wasn’t likable because I had low self-esteem… I present to people in a way that they deem masculine but it’s really just passion and if they really were smart, they would understand that the passion that I speak with is the passion that I f*ck with so I don’t understand why they can’t do that math.”
During the interview, Sharpe brought up the topic of certain Black people who prefer to be in white spaces. Grasping where the conversation was heading, Seales immediately brought up Candace Owens’ name. She spoke about how the Black community has been taught to be forgiving, but really should only forgive those who ask. “It’s not her fault,” she began. “It’s the spaces that let her back in. We can’t just look at Black people and say ‘Is this skin folk or kin folk?’ All of these Black media spaces that took her back in… all these Black media spaces that have just excoriated me for weeks, I look at them and say ‘You are simply Black by name, because you are white by commerce.”
Emmanuel Acho And Angel Reese
Shannon Sharpe also brought up college basketballer Angel Reese and sports analyst Emmanuel Acho. Acho had recently criticized Reese for presenting herself as a villain during her college basketball days but not sticking to that image when confronted with losses. Unhappy with the entire fiasco, Amanda Seales used this opportunity to call out Acho and dish out her own criticism in defense of Reese. “She is a young person,” she said. “Do you know how disgusting that is? And that cornball ass n*gga who loves to make himself look like he’s the white people savior. Emmanuel Acho. ‘Come talk to me, white people. I’m the black guy that’s nice.’ Cut it out. It’s ridiculous.”
Amanda Seales’s viral interview on Shannon Sharpes Club Shay Shay continues to make waves on social media. Seales is known for being outspoken and unafraid to say what is bothering her. The comedian had to check host Shannon Sharpe on multiple occasions during the interview. She had to correct him about the race of her parents after incorrectly and insensitively mischaracterizing their race. Seales also had to check Sharpe for dismissing her experiences with racism. Fans on social media have criticized Sharpe’s interview skills and his seemingly insensitive behavior during the sitdown.
Seales has now publicly discussed her experience doing the podcast and voiced her frustration with how she was treated. On her Instagram, she has spoken about how she felt “interrogated” by Sharpe, who she says was extremely insensitive. Seales also responded to her claims that she is on the Autism spectrum. During the interview, Seales claimed she was autistic, and Sharpe interrogated her on that fact in a tense moment. Seales is sticking by her truth and won’t let her perceived disrespect go unspoken.
Amanda Seales reiterated her conversation with Sharpe on her Instagram. Seals wrote, “Shannon: But have you been clinically diagnosed? Me: Yes. There is a clinical diagnosis for Autism.” She continued, “He then hung his head and exhaled in frustration because I did not answer his question.” Seales felt extremely disrespected and had to defend herself. She explained, saying, “…Because I was not going to be pressured by this man who was interrogating me with absolutely zero love for me into proving something to him that L. By his line of questioning, he had already committed to undermining.”
Seales explained on Instagram that she has not officially been diagnosed with Autism by a doctor. She explained in the interview, “I was recently diagnosed as someone who has autism spectrum disorder, which is very difficult to identify in Black women because of racism.” On Instagram, she revealed she has not officially been diagnosed because she doesn’t want to pay $10k for the tests. Overall, the Amanda Seales Club Shay Shay interview revealed a lot. Hopefully, both parties move on and continue to improve as individuals.
Amanda Seales’ interview on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay has been causing a lot of discussion. Seales has always been an outspoken personality and isnt afraid of levying criticism. She has recently called out an article that criticized her for calling out Black Hollywood. Seales has expressed that she does not always feel welcome in Black Hollywood spaces. She had commented on how it felt to not be invited to the NAACP Image Awards despite being a part of the industry. Now, Seales has opened up about being allegedly mistreated by Issa Rae.
Seales was one of the stars of Issa Rae’s HBO comedy Insecure which the show ran for five seasons. On Club Shay Shay she commented on the rumors of there being tension between herself and Rae. She went on to tell her side of the story, expressing how she was mistreated during the filming of the acclaimed show. The actor and comedian said she felt alienated by Rae and the rest of the cast. Her comments have sparked a discussion about Seales and Rae’s relationship.
Seales said in the Shannon Sharpe interview that Rae never felt she was “needed” on Insecure. She also mentioned Rae never promoted her show Get Your Life, even though Rae produced it through her production company. Seales also said of Rae, “She didn’t feel like I deserved to be protected. I’m only giving a portion of the situation. But that was my experience.” She continued, “And nonetheless, I have still always protected her because I felt like it was my responsibility to do so. But it is not.” Seales says she was never empowered by Rae like she supposedly empowers other Black women.
She clarified she knows how important Issa Rae’s role is in Hollywood, saying, “I’m not interested in getting a $100 million production deal. That’s not a life that I want for myself. But I know that her role is very important.” The Amanda Seales appearance on Club Shay Shay is another viral interview for Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe has received less than glowing reviews about his performance in the interview.
Amanda Seales’ recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast has sparked a heated debate. Seales, known for her outspoken nature, went off on Emmanuel Acho over his criticism of Angel Reese. However, the real controversy erupted when Sharpe seemingly dismissed Seales’s experiences with racism, leading to a heated exchange between the two. Seales told a story about how she was called the N-word when she was young, and Shannon was less than empathetic. Among other moments where Sharpe seemed out of his depths, Sharpe’s dismissive attitude rubbed fans the wrong way.
Seales is the latest celebrity to have viral moments on Sharpe’s show. Everyone is still recovering from the Katt Williams interview, in which he aired out the entire industry. The interview apparently made Sharpe more money than he ever made in his Hall of Fame football career. This time around, the focus isn’t necessarily on the geist but on the interviewer. Sharpe has come under fire for his interview skills and seemingly defensive response to his guest’s experience with discrimination. The latest interview has people asking if Sharpe is equipped to handle these types of serious conversations.
Shannon Sharpe Under Fire For Performance In Amanda Seales Interview
If there’s anything to learn from Shannon Sharpe’s interview with Amanda Seale is that he (and other black men) will continuously attempt to pacify antiBlack racism.
Even if a non-black child calls a black child the n-word, it’s just “something children do”, thus not racist. pic.twitter.com/5s9byNrmQl
Shannon Sharpe has been accused of being insensitive and dismissive during his interview with Amanda Seales. When Seales opened up about experiencing being called the N-word as a child, Sharpe responded by saying, “They’re Kids.” He continued, “As a child, you never said anything derogatory? You were just this model citizen as a child?” His response immediately dismissed and undercut Seales’ experience. A visibly frustrated Seales replied, “So you have no problem with the children that were cursing out Ruby Bridges? And the Little Rock Nine? Do you think that was just them being kids?” Seales told Shannon to his face that he was being combative and dismissive.
Fans are saying Shannon Sharpe was exposed in his latest interview. The sports personality was also exposed for not knowing basic information about Seales. He implied Seales’ mother was white, and when a frustrated Seales corrected him, he then said her father was white, which was also not true and swiftly refuted. After watching the interview, many are wondering if Sharpe is the person to talk to about serious issues. Even in Katt Williams’s blockbuster interview, Sharpe was often dismissive of Katt’s struggles. Maybe the criticism will get Sharpe to try and be better. Seales was in good spirits after the premiere, thanking fans for her response to her opening up.
Amanda Seales is someone who never shies away from sharing her beliefs. The comedian, actress, dancer, and social justice advocate frequently weighs in on struggles the Black community faces. She’s also been a vocal critic of prominent Black spaces, accusing them of leaving her out and failing to recognize her for her work. While this has earned Seales a loyal fanbase, it’s also earned her a great deal of backlash. Regardless, she continues to speak her mind.
It was Seales’ outspokenness that made her the perfect guest to appear on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay this week, and as expected, the episode arrived with no shortage of interesting moments. At one point in the interview, for example, Seales recalled one of her first-ever encounters with racism. She detailed the troubling experience, which saw her get bullied and harassed by a group of non-Black peers as a child during a trip to Walt Disney World.
As Seales reflected on being called the N-word, being told she only got the opportunity because she’s Black, and more, Sharpe chimed in. “They’re kids,” he said, leaving Seales in a state of disbelief. “As a child, you never said anything derogatory? You were just this model citizen as a child?” She was quick to respond, making it clear that she was there to share her own experiences and how they’ve impacted her, and certainly not to defend her childhood bullies. “So you have no problem with the children that were cursing out Ruby Bridges?” she began. “And the Little Rock Nine?” Check out her full rebuttal above.
What do you think of Amanda Seales’ recent appearance on Club Shay Shay? What about her recalling one of her first encounters with racism? Are you glad she checked Shannon Sharpe after he seemingly brushed it off or not? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Last month, Amanda Seales took to social media to reveal that she didn’t receive an invite to the NAACP Image Awards, despite being a notable part of the industry. The personality expressed feeling as though she isn’t accepted in Black spaces, and thanked her fans for reminding her of her value when her industry doesn’t.
“If it wasn’t for y’all I would really think that I ain’t doing sh*t,” she said at the time. “Because the industry I’m in does not recognize me. And to be clear, I’m speaking about the Black spaces in the industry I’m in ‘cause y’all know I don’t give two damns about any of these other spaces. But the Black spaces is what I’m referring to. Which is largely in part why I realize I need to shift out of this industry.”
Amanda Seales responds to the several editorials written about her after she said she was not invited to the NAACP Image Awards: “Honestly, I’ve had enough” pic.twitter.com/c7wM2a9zCl
Her take went viral and was soon met with a great deal of backlash. While plenty of users showed Seales support and agreed with her, others claimed that her “problematic” past is to blame. TheGrio even published an op-ed earlier this week which suggests that Seales is merely a victim of “her own hubris.” She was quick to respond, however, hopping online to sound off about the piece.
“Honestly, I’ve had enough,” she begins in a clip, the op-ed pictured behind her. “What the f*ck is wrong with y’all, really? Three pieces, three, from three people I have never met in my life. From three publications that are supposed to be about uplifting Black people, which is all that I’ve dedicated my life to doing! […] What hubris do I have? You people literally cannot stand that someone has studied and is speaking on what they studied. That someone has read and is speaking on what they have read. You can’t stand that someone loves us. […] You will not break me,” she also adds. Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Born in sunny Los Angeles, the very city that’s no stranger to dreams and stars, Amanda Seales didn’t just dip her toes into the whirlpool of the entertainment industry; she plunged right in. Her early days, marked by zeal and dedication, set the foundation for an impressive trajectory. As a former member of the R&B group Floetry and a host of talents, from acting to stand-up comedy, it’s clear that Seales is no one-trick pony. The culmination of these beginnings and her industrious nature has led her to a commendable financial standing. By 2024, her net worth stands at a notable $3 million, as pointed out by MovieMeter.
Career Highlights & Accolades
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 23: Amanda Seales poses for a portrait. During the BET Awards 2019 at Microsoft Theater on June 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
Amanda’s artistic range is enviable, and her resume reads like a smorgasbord of creativity. Perhaps you recall her scene-stealing moments in HBO’s Insecure as the ever-outspoken Tiffany DuBois? Or maybe you’ve laughed, pondered, or even shouted “Amen!” during her comedic sets that touch on topics ranging from Black culture to modern womanhood. Then there’s her podcast, Small Doses, which aptly serves morsels of wit, wisdom, and straight talk, solidifying her status as a keen cultural commentator.
Personal Life & Highlights
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 06: (L-R) Actors Y’Lan Noel, Maya Erskine, Ivan Shaw, Lisa Joyce, Dominique Perry. Sujata Day, Neil Brown, Jr., creator/executive producer/actress Issa Rae, actress Yvonne Orji actors Jay Ellis and Amanda Seales. Attend the premiere of HBO’s “Insecure” at Nate Holden Performing Arts Center on October 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Behind the spotlight’s glare lies a woman deeply connected to her roots and passions. Amanda Seales is a fervent advocate for social justice, frequently using her platform to voice her stance on racial inequality and women’s rights. Her commitment to activism is as pronounced as her commitment to the arts, making her a multi-dimensional figure in the public eye.
Business Ventures & Philanthropy
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 19: Amanda Seales signs copies of her new book. “Small Doses: Potent Truths For Everyday Use” at Book Soup. On October 19, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emil Ravelo/Getty Images)
Beyond the arts, Amanda is a discerning businesswoman with ventures that amplify her brand and serve the greater good. She invests in projects that resonate with her beliefs and values. Moreover, her philanthropic endeavors echo her advocacy, as she channels resources to uplift marginalized communities and support initiatives dear to her heart.
