During an online chat with journalist Danielle Young, the 'Glee' actress stresses that she would rather focus on the Black Lives Matter movement rather than joining the criticism against her former co-star.
- Jun 4, 2020
AceShowbiz - Amber Riley is not interested in delving deeper into Lea Michele controversy. Two days after sharing interesting memes in the wake of Samantha Ware's claims in regards to their former co-star's behavior on set, the Mercedes Jones of "Glee" finally weighed in on the drama in person.
Speaking to Essence writer Danielle Young during an Instagram Live chat on Wednesday, June 3, the 34-year-old actress stressed that it will be the "first and last time" she would address the controversy. "I don't give a s**t, about this Lea Michelle thing. I really don't give a f**k," she stated, before pointing out, "People are out here dying and being murdered by police."
"I wish Lea Michele well, I hope that she has an amazing pregnancy, I hope that she has grown," the SAG Award winner continued sharing. While she did not read Michele's apology, she admitted that her former co-star "reached out to me, I responded to her and that's where it ends for me." She added, "I ain't talk to that girl in two years. I have no hatred or ill will on that end."
During her address, Riley emphasized that she was not "going to say that Lea Michele is racist. That's not what I'm saying." Referring to the Black Lives Matter movement, she added, "That was the assumption because of what's going on right now in the world and it happened toward a Black person. I'm not going to say that she's racist. She's also pregnant and I think that everyone needs to chill."
"Y'all dragged her for a couple of days," the "Dancing with the Stars" alum further noted. "But at the same time, in my inbox there are a lot of Black actors and actresses telling me their stories and letting me know they have dealt with the same things on set, being terrorized by the white girls that are the leads of the show."
Still, Riley could not help but praised Samantha Ware for standing up for herself. "I am proud of her not being fearful for speaking her truth," she stated after revealing that the two of them has spoken of the matter. "[Her] feeling was, 'I am not going to allow you to jump on what is happening now when you didn't treat me right.' "
Numerous "Glee" actors, including Alex Newell and Heather Morris, have called out Michele for her rude behavior after Ware accused her of making her first television gig "a living hell." Ware tweeted on Monday, "I believe you told everyone that if you had the opportunity you would 's**t in my wig!' amongst other traumatic microaggressions that made me question a career in Hollywood…"
Michele herself has since issued an apology. "Whether it was my privileged position and perspective that caused me to be perceived as insensitive or inappropriate at times or whether it was just my immaturity and me just being unnecessarily difficult, I apologize for my behaviour and for any pain which I have caused," she wrote in an Instagram post.
