In a recent interview on the Club Shay Shay podcast, actress and comedian Amanda Seales made some surprising revelations about her relationship with Insecure creator and star Issa Rae. Seales claims there was friction between the two that stemmed from issues with Rae’s publicist. In this article we talk about: Did Amanda Seales and Issa Rae Really Feud? Here’s What Amanda Says.
Who is Amanda Seales?
For those unfamiliar, Amanda Seales is a multi-talented entertainer known for her stand-up comedy, acting, and hosting work. She’s been in films like My Brother and Me, Cop and a Half, and Freedomland. More recently, she had a starring role as Tiffany on the HBO series Insecure from 2016-2020.
Outside of acting, Seales has a Master’s degree in African American Studies, hosts a game show called Smart Funny & Black, and runs a production company called DivaWorks Inc.
The Beef with Issa Rae Explained
According to Seales, problems arose when she felt animosity from Rae’s publicist, Vanessa Anderson, during a “Black Emmys” party in 2018. Seales says she told Rae about it, but Rae did not intervene.
The next year, Seales attended the same event but claims Anderson had her removed by security guards, one of whom allegedly assaulted her.
Seales says Rae called to say she wasn’t involved, but also didn’t take action against Anderson or follow up on Seales’ concerns. This perceived lack of support is what drove a wedge between the two stars.
Why Seales Stayed Quiet Until Now
Interestingly, Seales says she refrained from speaking publicly about the rift to protect Rae’s career. As she put it:
“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.”
Seales seems to recognize that as a black female showrunner, Rae holds a rare position of power in Hollywood that needs to be shielded.
Where Things Stand Now
While it’s unclear if Seales and Rae have reconciled, Seales maintains she harbors no ill will. She calls the falling out “a difference in opinion” and says she brought it up now to illustrate how speaking up about injustice isn’t always easy, even for prominent people.
It’s an insightful example of the complications marginalized groups face, even within their own communities, when confronting oppressive systems.
By shining a light on this industry experience, Amanda Seales has provided a lot of food for thought. Her willingness to share, despite some risk to herself and Rae, suggests a commitment to honest dialogue and positive change in entertainment. I sincerely hope you find this “Did Amanda Seales and Issa Rae Really Feud? Here’s What Amanda Says” article helpful.
