This past weekend, Keke Palmer spoke to her talent as an entertainer and addressed the comparison talk between her and fellow actress Zendaya.
On July 23, a Twitter user sent out a tweet that read, “I’d like someone to do a deep-drive on the similarities and differences between Keke Palmer and Zendaya’s careers. This may occasionally be considered one of the clearest examples of how colorism plays out in Hollywood.”
“They were each child-stars, but their mainstream popularity may be very different,” the user continued.
In response to CNN, the tweet went viral, and eventually caught the eye of Palmer on the next day. The Nope star then addressed the comparison, and listed a few of her accomplishments within the industry.
“An awesome example of colorism is to imagine I might be in comparison with anyone,” the 28-year-old wrote. “I’m the youngest talk show host ever. The primary Black woman to star in her own show on Nickelodeon, & the youngest & first Black Cinderella on broadway. I’m an incomparable talent. Baby, THIS, is Keke Palmer.”
“I’ve been a number one lady since I used to be 11 years old,” she continued. “I even have over 100+ credits, and currently starring in an original screenplay that’s the primary film on the box office #NOPE. I’ve had a blessed profession so far, I couldn’t ask for more but God continues to surprise me.”
In 2020, Zendaya became the youngest actress to win an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series, for her role in Euphoria. Per a report by USA Today, the Spider Man: No Way Home star hasn’t released a response, but has addressed the problem of colorism previously.
“I’m Hollywood’s acceptable version of a Black girl and that has to vary,” Zendaya said during a panel discussion in 2018. “We’re vastly too beautiful and too interesting for me to only be the one representation of that.”
“What I’m saying, it’s about creating those opportunities, sometimes,” she added. “You may have to create those paths.”
Nope, directed by Jordan Peele and starring Palmer and July ESSENCE cover star Daniel Kaluuya, is in theaters now.
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