1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Being a plush sized black woman and venturing into a 2 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: business that doesn't necessarily love you or isn't really rooting 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: for you. I think all of that is born out 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,759 Speaker 1: of necessity. It was very necessary for me to not 5 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:21,599 Speaker 1: really care too much about what other people said that 6 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: I should be doing, and really just marching to the 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: beat of my own drummer, being focused on whatever target 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: it is that I wanted to heat hit and either 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: gonna get on board? Are you gonna watch the strain 10 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 1: go by? And that's that's just it. It's giving, it's 11 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: giving energy. I love it. On this edition of Naked, 12 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: it's actress, singer, creator, everything, she is everything Amber Riley. 13 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: Y'all don't want to mess it back in a moment. 14 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 1: Every champion and carry champion is to be a champion, 15 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: the champion and carry Champion and carry Champion, the Champion 16 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:15,199 Speaker 1: and carry Champion and carry Champion Radius raiders and sports 17 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: and then the tammingking naked worker in the world. With 18 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: vulnerable considered, we come and remove the vail from entertainment elite. 19 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: It's a difference tween with it's real and with the 20 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 1: public seas. So here's your favorite celebrities behind the scenes. 21 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: It's refreshing up. Then the whole story specific life all 22 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: to rennivent, to shake the person that you Henry, gotta 23 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: champion and carry champion the girl you didn't. It's the 24 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: greatest in sports and entertainment. Can naked with every champion 25 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 1: and carry champions. To be a champion, the champion they 26 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: carry champion, they girl did kind the champion they carry 27 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 1: champion and carry champion Raders, raiders and sports and entertaining 28 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: and naked wimmen. Hey, everybody, thank you for joining us 29 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: for another edition of Naked. As I said, Amber Riley 30 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: is on the podcast today and you're gonna enjoy her. 31 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 1: She gives me. She's giving, as the kids say, I'm 32 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: gonna continue to say that she's giving. I'd like to 33 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: give you guys all a recap though, before we dive 34 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: into the podcast. I am coming off a very exciting, 35 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: exhilarating week, UM tiring week, So excuse me if I 36 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: signd a little beat. They announced my new show on CNN. 37 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: UM it's on CNN Plus actually coming in March, and 38 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: it's called Speak Easy. I'm doing it with my girl 39 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: j Hill, and we are doing what we do inform, 40 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 1: entertain be amazing, be black, be unapologetic, be smart, thing differently, 41 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: and share some really good hot takes with you all. Um. 42 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: So that's wonderful. We also were honored by essence. It's been. 43 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: It's been a beautiful week. It's coming off a super Bowl, 44 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: and that is where I want to spend just a 45 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: little time. I feel like a bit of a hypocrite 46 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: because surely I enjoyed the Super Bowl concert. Surely I 47 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: enjoyed the super Bowl game my rams one. But I 48 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: tell you what, just weeks before, I was going in 49 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: on the NFL about how they treated Brian Flores and 50 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: they're very obvious racist practices or their their idea that 51 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,519 Speaker 1: they don't need to fold to anyone and have diversity 52 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: and positions of power including ownership. Um. But yet and 53 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: still I was enjoying that game on Sunday. I know 54 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: y'all did it. And it's funny. I've been having this 55 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: conversation with I've been having this particular conversation, excuse me, 56 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: with several of my friends, and the reality is one 57 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: must be okay with the world that they live in, right, 58 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: because this is the world we live in. But it 59 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: seems so hypocritical to enjoy the game and the concert, 60 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: and knowing the concert was all black because they wanted 61 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: to be like, see, we're diverse. We gave you, guys 62 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: a black concert and the history of the Super Bowl. 63 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: Take this black concert. You black people, entertain us, play 64 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: on the field, entertain us. And I enjoyed it and 65 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 1: I was entertained. You know, both can be true. I'm 66 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: still very disappointed with the league, and I don't know 67 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: what to do with that outside of using my platform 68 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: to talk about what's wrong. But yet, and still I'm 69 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: enjoying the game and my hypocrite I'm struggling. I'm struggling 70 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 1: with it. Uh. And that is a conversation, obviously for 71 00:04:03,280 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: another time. But it has been a week filled with 72 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: a lot of wonderful, exciting news, also with a real 73 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: sobering moment of what to do when you feel so 74 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: compelled to speak boldly against such an institution as the NFL. 75 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: But yeah, and still you're watching the NFL. And I 76 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: don't think boycotting is the answer. I don't think not 77 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: watching is the answer, at least I don't think so. 78 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:29,839 Speaker 1: Now the world we live in, the two Americas. Meanwhile, 79 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: back to the yes. Amber Riley joined us as she 80 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 1: was promoting UM Single Black Female. Do you guys remember 81 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: that original film Single White Female. Do you remember that? Uh? 82 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: I forget who the actress was, but she had red hair, 83 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: and I remember watching that and thinking, gosh, these women 84 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: are crazy. So Amber Riley reprising that role UM in 85 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: a lifetime original Single Black Female. Uh. It came out 86 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: in February or early February five. So I hope you 87 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: all support. If you don't, still go back on demand 88 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 1: support because you can do that. But let me tell 89 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 1: you a little bit about Amber Riley. What I love 90 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: about her, As she has so clearly stated, she grew 91 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: up in Compton and she made her creative and made 92 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: her who she is. And I thought, looking at her, 93 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: man black, don't crack. I was like, she gotta be 94 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 1: because I hate to google people because the ages always lie. 95 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: So I was like, she's gotta be twenty thirty, maybe 96 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: twenty something thirty something. Maybe she hit me with a 97 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: full mature age and I was like, okay, then okay, 98 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: then I forget that these these people who play high 99 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: school characters. For instance, she was in Glee. You may 100 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: remember her in Glee. She was Mercedes in Glee and 101 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: made me think, m hm, she has to be young, 102 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: but she was not. Excuse me, but jeez, and that 103 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: was I mean, how long ago was that? That was 104 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: a while ago. But anyway, she really became known to 105 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: a lot of people, um, locally and probably to you 106 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: all when she was through well what she tried out 107 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: for American Idol at the age of seventeen, right, and 108 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 1: she got rejected and it was like sad, and she 109 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: was disappointed and she didn't know what was going to happen, 110 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 1: and it was a bummer, um. But she ended up 111 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 1: getting something better, right, working as an actress that can sing, 112 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: and her scening career led to so many other things. 113 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: She's saying at the Democratic National Convention in she has 114 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: this powerful voice and she has a powerful presence and 115 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,919 Speaker 1: she's unapologetic about it. But she also connect which we 116 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: all know. And so when I was talking to her, 117 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: the point of the conversation was really just to find 118 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: out who she was and what she stands for. You know, 119 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: I call that intestinal fortitude. What you want to do 120 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: with what you have? That is all that matters in life? 121 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 1: What do you have? Because it doesn't need to be 122 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: much and what will you do with it? Is it 123 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 1: just about us and living for ourselves or is it 124 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: about being an example for others? Is it about sharing 125 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: what the world is about? Thing your gift back to 126 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: other people or is it helping other people find their 127 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 1: gifts because we all have gifts. Baby got gifts, showty 128 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: God gifts. I think that's a rach A song. Anyway, 129 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: you guys are gonna enjoy her. Amber is really really 130 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: crystal clear about who she is, and I just started 131 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: at the beginning. Tell me about yourself, Amber, who you are, 132 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,760 Speaker 1: who you be with, what makes you smile? What numbers 133 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: do I dial? That's not really how the rap goes, 134 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: but essentially that's what I asked Amber Riley. Give it 135 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: up for Amber Riley. Man. So I'm from Camp Pompton, California, 136 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: and I always do say, you know, Compton, Compton making 137 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: that there used to be a shame. Nothing don't nothing 138 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: could good come out of Compting. But it does. There's 139 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: a lot of great things that have come out of Compting. 140 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: I love my upbringing. I grew up on a little 141 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: ranch in Compton. I grew up around cowboys and horses 142 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: and chickens, and pigs, and people would never believe me 143 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: when I say this. Listen, grow up with Richling farms. 144 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: That's what it's called Richling farms. And I just had 145 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: like a very you know, close knit family. We didn't 146 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: have a lot, but what we had we made work. Um, 147 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 1: it was always fun and in an adventure. Growing up 148 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 1: in the hood made you super creative. So it attributed 149 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: to so much of my creativity as an adult. I mean, 150 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: I still deal with insecurities now. Um I'm not unaffected, 151 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: I'm not stone. It's just I feel like as you 152 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:39,239 Speaker 1: get oh, as I've gotten older, I've started to understand 153 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: that there is no destination when it comes to mental health. 154 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: It's always going to be a journey the rest of 155 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,719 Speaker 1: my life, and it's gonna ebb and flow, and I'm 156 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: gonna have my ups and downs. Even talking to my 157 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 1: therapist today, I've been on the high for my movie 158 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 1: coming out, and you know, she was like, you know, 159 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: I just wanted to even talk to you about you know, 160 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: it's gonna come down eventually, and that's okay, just so 161 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: you know, like, let's not not preparing for boom and doom, 162 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 1: but just knowing that every single emotion umh is uh temporary, 163 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: and so I have my insecurities like everyone else, and 164 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:21,120 Speaker 1: I have um fallen into wanting to fit in just 165 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: like everyone else has. And uh, you know, Hollywood will 166 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,959 Speaker 1: definitely do that to you, but it's always the individuals 167 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: that stick out. So I respect Amber because she does 168 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: advocate for herself, and that, to me, is really hard 169 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: to do, especially when you're in spaces where it's rare 170 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: meaning the rare fight air when there's just one of you. 171 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,320 Speaker 1: Because the first thing I know, the first thing I 172 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: think about when I'm at work and I'm advocating for myself, 173 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: I automatically know that those them the others will say, 174 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,599 Speaker 1: there she go, but an attitude, black girl with an attitude. 175 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: She asked him for too much, she's a diva or whatever, 176 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: all of things right, These are all the narratives that 177 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: pop in your head when you're trying to simply say, hey, 178 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: can I get it? Can I get another chair for 179 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: me to sit down on set? You know that kind 180 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: of thing? Or can I do you mind if I 181 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: too get the same email that gives me the details 182 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: about how to finish the job. All I'm saying is 183 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 1: that when you find yourself in these spaces, it is 184 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: so difficult to advocate for yourself for fear of thinking 185 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: how you will be received. So with that being said, 186 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: on January two, early this year, Amber tweeted, I despise 187 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: when people call me Mercedes. Put some respect on my name, 188 00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: call me Amber or Riley. It's wild that I even 189 00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: have to say that. No shade to the show slash 190 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: character that gave me a career, but please stop this ship. 191 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 1: I don't answer to it, and if you do it facetiously, 192 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 1: I'll block you. Of course, I had to ask Amber 193 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: what that was about. It was a trigger, it was 194 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: a response, It was a response. It was a trigger. Well, 195 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 1: I honestly, you know it was. It was a response 196 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: to a couple of tweets, but one in particular, and 197 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:16,119 Speaker 1: it and it happens often, and I specifically meant online, 198 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: so it was kind of it's kind of been framed 199 00:11:19,040 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 1: and reported in a different way than I than I 200 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 1: meant it. So it really was just me saying I 201 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: want people to use my name like I'm a person, 202 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: So if you're gonna address me, just call me Amber. 203 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: When some people would say it online and there's a 204 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: certain demographic of people that would say it online. It 205 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 1: was sent in a way to kind of dehumanize me 206 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: and take away who I am as a person. Um. 207 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: It was a very very nasty tweet that I was 208 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: responding to, but I just didn't add the person because 209 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna give you Cloud. I'm not gonna add you. 210 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,959 Speaker 1: But the way that some of them would call me Mercedes, 211 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: it it's as if it was a curse word. It's 212 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: kind of like when the movie Precious came out and 213 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: every fat black girl was called Precious in a negative way. 214 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,200 Speaker 1: Do you know what I'm saying? So I tried to 215 00:12:12,559 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 1: I I was like, people didn't undertay, don't you guys 216 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 1: don't understand what was going on in my head when 217 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 1: I say that, I'm also the only black character on 218 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: the show, and I'm also the only one that you 219 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: guys do that too. So it's not being done out 220 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 1: of as you were trying to stay out of admiration 221 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 1: or excitement or anything like that. Because when you act 222 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: me online, you see that my name is and Vrity, 223 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: you know, and I know the difference between somebody you 224 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: know who who loves me and just loves the character, 225 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: and it's just like excited. That's not That's not what 226 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: I'm saying. It's there are people that are doing it 227 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,719 Speaker 1: secetiously and I'm emotionally intelligent. I know the difference. I'm 228 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:50,719 Speaker 1: I'm I'm I know the difference. So that was a 229 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,200 Speaker 1: response to that person. I I honestly was not expecting 230 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 1: this to blow up for me ask me to say 231 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: my name. But you know, anytime a black woman doesn't 232 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: seem humble enough for people, or we advocate for ourselves, 233 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: we're a bit or we're ungrateful or we're angry, and 234 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,680 Speaker 1: I'm like, yeah, no, I was annoyed. I was triggered 235 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: in that moment. I was triggered, and I don't like 236 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: when people do that. So I'm gonna tell them, like, 237 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: hey call me Amber Riley because my name is ever 238 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: So just like, don't call me Mercedes when you know 239 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: my name's writer. You can't really be afraid of um 240 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: what they're gonna call you or how you can't because honestly, 241 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: whatever it is that you say, Like, you know, I 242 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 1: was on a I was on the set where anything 243 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: that I bet I said was taken as a complaint 244 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: and it's and it's like that and it's just in 245 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,319 Speaker 1: Hollywood in general. Any set, and you know set that 246 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: any set that I've been on, it's like you have 247 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 1: to say it really super sweet or you have to 248 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 1: be really nice, and it's always good to be kind. 249 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,320 Speaker 1: It's not like I'm I'm gonna be rude. You know, 250 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna be an asshole just to be an 251 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: asshole on a set like the other person as a person. 252 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 1: I respect you as a person, but you know there 253 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: are certain things that you need. Like when I was 254 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:13,200 Speaker 1: on for a single Black Female, Raven said, the one 255 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: thing that I've learned from Amber is how to advocate 256 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: for myself because she doesn't play I don't. Hey, hey, guys, 257 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: you know we're on set that all the actors are 258 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: on set and there are no cash chairs. Hey, you 259 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 1: have this actor and I know that this is he's 260 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: only working one day, but he needs a cash share. 261 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 1: He shouldn't be standing up in between scenes waiting. That's 262 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: not that's not cool. Guys. Come on, hey, you know, 263 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 1: or I'll find the mature. Hey sit here, Like, let's 264 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: let's all do what we need to do on this 265 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: set to make sure that everyone is comfortable and that 266 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: we can get through because we're gonna be here all day. 267 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: We're gonna be here for twelve hours, we're gonna be 268 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 1: here fifteen. Now it's a nice too. I'm exhausted, you're exhausted. 269 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: Let's make this the easiest, you know, the easiest that 270 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: we can. And I don't think that there's anything wrong 271 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: with advocating for so because what I'm gonna do when 272 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: I show up on the say, I'm gonna know my lines, 273 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna hit my marks, I'm gonna show up on time, 274 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna I'm gonna do my job. I know that 275 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to do my job, so I need everybody 276 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: else to do their job. So I just need everyone 277 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: else to do their job. That's all I'm saying. That's 278 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 1: all I'm saying. I do my job, you do yours. 279 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: The irony of being an artist, right Here's what's so 280 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: ironic artists, and by artists, I mean anyone who does 281 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: anything creatively that you put in front of the world 282 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,800 Speaker 1: to see. Because when we put it in front of 283 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: the world, we're saying, hey, judge, what I just did, 284 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 1: How do you like it. We're not saying that purposefully, 285 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: but that is what happens whenever you create and you 286 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: give it to the world social media, acting, singing, dancing, 287 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: TV host, artists, painter, creator, builder, anything you were saying 288 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: to someone, judge it, whether you want to be judged 289 00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: or not. And Amber makes a really good point. She says, 290 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 1: this business of being a creative is about reject and 291 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: you have to be crazy to be in the business 292 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: where you're constantly being told no, or you're not enough, 293 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: or you're not good enough for you don't look the 294 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: right you don't look at the part if you will. 295 00:16:09,960 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: So I asked her about American Idol and what that 296 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 1: did for her career and what it meant to be 297 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: a part of American Idol, because that was arguably the 298 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: biggest stage for rejection. You know, because they you watch 299 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: while they reject you. We we tune it in to 300 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: see the rejection. I mean, she had a really great thought. 301 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: I think the desire um guess having the god even talent, 302 00:16:33,560 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: but I think the desire is so big that even 303 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: if you wanted to kind of swallow it, even if 304 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: you wanted to bury it, there's just the way that 305 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 1: you can. It's just the the love for for it. 306 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: I mean, because Honestly, you've got to be crazy to 307 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: be in this business. The building business is all about rejection. 308 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: That's it's built on exclusivity. It's built on it's built 309 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: on have you know, it's built with gatekeepers, it's built 310 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: on keeping certain people out. And that's that's the way 311 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: that this business is built. So you gotta be you're 312 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: glutton for punishment, just wanting to be in in Hollywood. 313 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,159 Speaker 1: So you have to have the love for what it 314 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 1: is that you do. And and honestly, it's just that hunger, 315 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: that hunger that you that that hunger turns into a drive, 316 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: Like you know, when you're ravenous and you really want 317 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,359 Speaker 1: something to eat, You're You're just like, I'm dropping everything 318 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 1: right now so I can eat, and I'm not going 319 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 1: to stop until I get American Idol was like, uh, 320 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:40,359 Speaker 1: a last minute thing. I really really want to go. 321 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,879 Speaker 1: I begged my mom. I was like to drive me 322 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: down there. So my mom and my dad and my 323 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: sister drove me down to the San Francisco audition from 324 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:53,720 Speaker 1: Los Angeles. It was such a nightmare drive, standing outside 325 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: for hours and hours at a chance to just you know, 326 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 1: get to a producer call um uh and never you know, 327 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:04,800 Speaker 1: not making it through. Like I was really devastated when 328 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: I didn't get it. Yes, I was really devastated, and 329 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 1: it ended up kind of being like really sweet because 330 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: I ended up working for Fox anyways, except now I 331 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 1: was getting paid to sing, um, which was much better 332 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: than going on American Idol and singing for free. But 333 00:18:21,160 --> 00:18:23,440 Speaker 1: you know, it just goes to show you that everything 334 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 1: happens for a reason. The great thing about me being 335 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 1: on Glee is I was always highlighted as a singer, 336 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: so people expected me to sing. But you still have 337 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: to prove yourself as an artist, and that happens by 338 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,680 Speaker 1: knowing exactly who you are and being on your grind, 339 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: just like I was on my grind as an actor. 340 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:46,240 Speaker 1: So um, I feel like they do compete with my 341 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:50,719 Speaker 1: time sometimes because um, I am focused on my acting 342 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 1: career and um also being a producer and wanting to 343 00:18:54,640 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: produce content and television. So the time is sometimes just like, well, 344 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 1: you still gotta have life, you know, can't live in 345 00:19:03,119 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: the studio. Um, But you know, I try to. I 346 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 1: try to manage my time wisely. Amber Riley still with us, 347 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,400 Speaker 1: still dropping gems as I love on the other side 348 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 1: of the break, We'll be back. Every champion and carry 349 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: Champion is to be a champion, A champion and carry 350 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,680 Speaker 1: Chappion and carry Chappion. Champion and carry Chappion and carry 351 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: Chappion Fraid Sports, and then the team making make it 352 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: work on her. Every champion and carry Chappion is to 353 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: be a champion, a champion, they carry Chappion and they champion. 354 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: They carry Champion and carry Chappion right Fraid Sports and 355 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: then the team making make it work Amber Riley, welcome 356 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 1: back to Naked Well. The reason, in my opinion, humble opinion, 357 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: I believe Amber is finding successes because she is unapologetic 358 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: about what her shadows are. Meaning she's talking about therapy, 359 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: she's talking about the idea that she is a plus 360 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 1: size black woman in the world where they only are 361 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: looking for, you know, rayle thin white women, if you will. 362 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: She doesn't look the part, but she gets the part. 363 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: So to be a lead in this movie, Single Black 364 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 1: Female in Lifetime is really interesting. And and you know 365 00:20:13,440 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: why it's interesting because I was saying in the beginning, 366 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: this is a remake of that film Single White Female, 367 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:23,640 Speaker 1: and I did a little research, came out and it 368 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: was Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Lee. I remember it 369 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:33,280 Speaker 1: like it was yesterday because Jennifer Jason Lee was crazy. Um. 370 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 1: And I think that if you understand what it means 371 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:41,399 Speaker 1: to be an actress, a black actress more specifically, they 372 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 1: always try to give you the black role. Right. So 373 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: they take this film that did pretty fairly well that 374 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,959 Speaker 1: featured white women, and they were like, no, single black female, 375 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: let me do that. I love it. I asked Amber, 376 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: how did she feel about being the lead in this film? 377 00:20:57,520 --> 00:21:00,960 Speaker 1: Single black female is a been off for a different 378 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:04,919 Speaker 1: version of single white female. So, um, you know, just 379 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: being in a psychological thriller to plus size black women. 380 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,399 Speaker 1: Raydon Goodman is good Women. Is a great friend of mine. 381 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 1: I'm also a fan of hers just as an actor 382 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: in general. She's a phenomenal actor. So us being able 383 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: to play leads. And I always say this, like I'm 384 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: a leading lady. That's one of my confessions when I 385 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:24,720 Speaker 1: wake up in the morning, Like I look at the 386 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 1: mirror and I'm like, you're a leading lady. You know 387 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:28,199 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. You're not just a psychic, You're not 388 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: just the best friend. You're a leading lady. And um, 389 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,880 Speaker 1: this was an opportunity to be a leading lady, same 390 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 1: for women, good women. And I read the script and 391 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 1: then you know, Lifetime has um is pushing female directors 392 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: and stories. The script was written by two women, our 393 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:52,200 Speaker 1: director Sherry Carpenter, the producers were all women, Um, all 394 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 1: black women. And then having you know, a black female 395 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 1: leads in the film and reading the script, how amazing 396 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 1: it was, and it's just it was just everything perfect 397 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:07,080 Speaker 1: for my career. This is such a great step in 398 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: direction for my career. And it was like a no brainer. 399 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: It was like an immediate yes for me. Your character 400 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 1: is whoo which which one? Which I am the I 401 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 1: am the crazy one I play I play the obsessed character. 402 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,440 Speaker 1: And it was very something, very different from me. I've 403 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 1: never played a character like this before. And um, it 404 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 1: was really fun and sometimes very uncomfortable. And I had 405 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 1: to say I definitely stepped up outside of my my 406 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: comfort zone, um doing this character. But I loved it. 407 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: I did. I loved I loved it. It's a really 408 00:22:57,359 --> 00:23:03,159 Speaker 1: juicy film. Um, it's super exciting. Janny hubert is Uh 409 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: playing Raven Goodwin's character Monica's mom, absolutely amazing working with 410 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 1: her and it's got a little bit of everything in it, 411 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:13,919 Speaker 1: got a little bit of spice, got a little bit 412 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:16,119 Speaker 1: of sexiness. But I'm Lenny for all of it. Because 413 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: when I heard this character, this movie was being redone 414 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: as a black film. I was with it because Single 415 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,160 Speaker 1: White Female was everything I used to watch. I don't repeat. 416 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: I don't know why. I love those type of thrillers, right, 417 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,760 Speaker 1: but it was always crazy. It was crazy. So now 418 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 1: you're telling me that girl I was afraid of. I 419 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: was like, Oh, she's crazy, she's crazy. I forget the 420 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: woman's name. And I really tried to play that character. 421 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 1: I really wanted to humanize the character, but which I 422 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 1: feel like I did, Like I wanted people to feel 423 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 1: for that character. Um, but then at the end, I 424 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: wanted to be able to go nuts, which I did. 425 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 1: You know, so much fun. I don't know about y'all, 426 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:55,399 Speaker 1: but I definitely think Amber is successful and I and 427 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 1: I asked her that question, you know, do you think 428 00:23:57,680 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: you've made it? If you will? She has a feel 429 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 1: them out. She's been on Glee, she was on American Idol. 430 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: When or not when she's known, she's saying, She's saying 431 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:07,680 Speaker 1: at the d n C as she has albums. I mean, 432 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 1: there's all kinds of things right that I can list 433 00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: that point to accomplishments injurings fulfilled. But when I asked her, 434 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: you know, she was honest. Again why I love her so? 435 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: And it seems that so many of us suffer from 436 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: this and that's imposter syndrome. You don't necessarily know if 437 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: you belong. But I definitely think she belongs. I think 438 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:37,840 Speaker 1: imposter syndrome definitely setting after that, Like, girl, when they 439 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:41,880 Speaker 1: find out and when they find out that you're here, 440 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:45,400 Speaker 1: all of that is gonna be like taking away, gonna 441 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,639 Speaker 1: they don't figure you out? Girl, why you are over it? 442 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,640 Speaker 1: To me, it's self sabotage. It's and it's not it's you. 443 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: And it's that that word that is a good word, 444 00:24:56,040 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: but it's also a bad word, humility, because I feel 445 00:24:59,400 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 1: like in and the humility has been ingrained. It's like 446 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 1: people Black people are always taught. This is just how 447 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: I feel to be humble and to always be grateful, right, 448 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: especially black women. I've been in. I've been in I've 449 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:17,320 Speaker 1: been in situations where I was walking in my greatness 450 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: and my confidence and I saw somebody purposely trying to 451 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:23,919 Speaker 1: humble me because it bothered him. I view you battle 452 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: with Yes, I want to be grateful, but I also 453 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: bring something to the table too, So it's the it's 454 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,400 Speaker 1: a it's a delicate balance. And and you know, when 455 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: you sit in front of somebody like Oprah Winfrey or 456 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: you know the Obama's are whomever that may be for you, 457 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:45,480 Speaker 1: imposter syndrome and you know what I'm saying, that self 458 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,679 Speaker 1: sabotegre sometimes will kind of come to the surface and 459 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,000 Speaker 1: be like, when they figure out that you're not supposed 460 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: to be here, what's gonna happen? But it's like, no, 461 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: if they didn't think that you were supposed to be here, 462 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,439 Speaker 1: they wouldn't have asked. And you have worked hard. You know, 463 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 1: you have had sleepless nights, and you've had tears, and 464 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:06,120 Speaker 1: you have done the smaller events that you didn't get 465 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:09,800 Speaker 1: paid for, and invested in other people's projects that didn't 466 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 1: invest in you, and did things you know, but didn't 467 00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: get the shine or didn't get the recognition like you've 468 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: done those things. So appreciate this moment now. And I 469 00:26:21,400 --> 00:26:24,440 Speaker 1: remember one time I was praying and I was like, God, 470 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:26,280 Speaker 1: I do all of it. I try to be such 471 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,320 Speaker 1: a good person, and I invest another and this person 472 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,919 Speaker 1: is getting this and that person is getting out, and 473 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:35,159 Speaker 1: I don't understand blah blah blah blah, And I just 474 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 1: remember feeling like God said to me, But you don't 475 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: know their life. You're just looking at what's on the surface. 476 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:44,239 Speaker 1: But you have so many great things. You have an 477 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 1: amazing family that is super supportive. Because there are some people, 478 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,600 Speaker 1: you know, some kids that want to be on television 479 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,679 Speaker 1: and and are very you know, I want to be 480 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: in the entertainment industry, and they have parents that are 481 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,280 Speaker 1: like absolutely not. You're going to who You're going to college, 482 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: You're gonna get this degree, You're gonna get a good job. 483 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: I don't think that I've had in a I made 484 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 1: it moment. I'm still like, I don't I'm still waiting 485 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: for that moment. I guess I don't think I've had that, 486 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:16,479 Speaker 1: but I've had I have had moments where I was 487 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 1: just like, how did I get here? Standing next to 488 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:26,399 Speaker 1: President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White 489 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: House and then being asked to come back repeatedly, you know, 490 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 1: meeting them, and like having First Lady like email you 491 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:38,880 Speaker 1: or send you, Hey, Amber, thank you so like it's 492 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:41,679 Speaker 1: or when I see her, she like likes it's weird, 493 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: like I know them. And then I met Oprah that 494 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:47,919 Speaker 1: same weekend, like I'm not even trying to be whatever, 495 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: but I thought the plane was literally gonna crash on 496 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:52,160 Speaker 1: the way home because I was like, there's nothing else 497 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:57,000 Speaker 1: that I can actually do one weekend. In one weekend, 498 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: it's insane. I actually did the Open Wind Free show 499 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: and it was like, really, I think that maybe the 500 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: following year it Oprah was going like she canceled her show. 501 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:13,360 Speaker 1: She stopped doing the show the following year, so we 502 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 1: were one of her last guests. And man, I'm gonna 503 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:18,679 Speaker 1: tell you, she's such a pro. Like she walked right 504 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:20,480 Speaker 1: up to my mom. She knew my mother's name, she 505 00:28:20,560 --> 00:28:25,160 Speaker 1: knew everyone's name, like she was so personable, like, hey, 506 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 1: um hey, Tiny, it's so nice to meet you. I 507 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:30,879 Speaker 1: know you're happy, you're so proud of your daughter, and 508 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:32,239 Speaker 1: we me and my mom was just like how does 509 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,040 Speaker 1: she know her names? There's like seventeen of us in 510 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 1: this cast, and she knew everyone's parents names, Like she's 511 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:42,600 Speaker 1: just she was so gracious and just amazing, just great. 512 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 1: Amber if you're listening this just in hanging out with Oprah? 513 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: Did she know your mama and your friends at least 514 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:54,719 Speaker 1: friends in my book? You made it? You officially made it, 515 00:28:55,680 --> 00:29:00,720 Speaker 1: Signed lady who stalks Oprah daily. Meantime, I asked Amber 516 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: as we close, what was the next for her? Very 517 00:29:03,960 --> 00:29:10,120 Speaker 1: thoughtful and and truly creative and also everywhere everything's next 518 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: for her? Oh man, I mean, I don't think that 519 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: I've I really look that far in advance. I just 520 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,479 Speaker 1: have general goals of what I want to see in 521 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: my life, but that timeline isn't really up to me. 522 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 1: That's up to God to be honest when it can happen. 523 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: But I definitely want my own television show. That's always 524 00:29:31,120 --> 00:29:33,480 Speaker 1: something that I've wanted since I was a kid. Um. 525 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 1: I want to produce it, I want to starring it, 526 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: and I want to write on it. So that's always 527 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 1: been a big dream of mine. And as far as music, 528 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: music is more passion for me than a job. Acting 529 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: is more of a Acting is a passion, but it's 530 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,360 Speaker 1: also a job to me, a job that I really love. 531 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: But with music, it's like there's a different part of 532 00:29:56,160 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: my heart that is connected to music. So I like 533 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 1: in the future, I definitely want to put an album out. 534 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: I put out an EP and putting out another EP, 535 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: but I want to put out a full a full 536 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 1: album and project and be able to tour because we're 537 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: we're in a pandemic, so touring is weird. Um, it's 538 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 1: a very very weird time. Yeah, it's a very very 539 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 1: weird time. But I guess I've seen myself in five 540 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: years doing what I'm doing now and hopefully finding more 541 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 1: success in in the things that I ventured into. Amber. 542 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:34,680 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. I 543 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:38,280 Speaker 1: appreciate you for doing that. If you're listening, listen, you've 544 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 1: made it. You're creating space in a world that didn't 545 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:45,200 Speaker 1: want you there, that didn't necessarily promote you being there, 546 00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: that wasn't always welcoming, and may not be welcoming as 547 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: I speak to you now, but I appreciate your your diligence, 548 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: your head down approach, like I gotta do this, whether 549 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:57,360 Speaker 1: you want me in it or not. I'm doing his 550 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 1: head down, head down, head down, head down. She's creating 551 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:07,480 Speaker 1: space and it is encouraging. Pretty soon, it won't be 552 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 1: about oh are you a plus sized black woman? It's 553 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:14,239 Speaker 1: just gosh, you're a great actress. It is gosh, you're 554 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:17,080 Speaker 1: a great singer. Gosh, you've done so much. I really 555 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 1: respect you as a speed. If you will, that's it. 556 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 1: It's not about what you look like at all. They'll 557 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:29,040 Speaker 1: ignore all of that. Talent does trump Aull, and she 558 00:31:29,160 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: is definitely talented. Um. I hope you guys have enjoyed 559 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 1: this edition of Naked. We had to pay some bills, 560 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:36,200 Speaker 1: lots of bills, long commercials, but you know how that is. 561 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 1: Gotta pay the bills. Um. And last but not least, 562 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 1: before I go, I really truly am grateful for all 563 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:47,680 Speaker 1: that I have with you as listeners and the support 564 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:50,040 Speaker 1: you give me um as you watch me try to 565 00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:52,600 Speaker 1: create space in different areas. Again, I want to thank 566 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 1: you guys for just supporting me and all that I do. 567 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it. I'm really grateful that you are 568 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,880 Speaker 1: down for all my adventures, all my new projects, and 569 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: more importantly, that you're just listening, that you're telling folks 570 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: about the podcast. We're doing really really well, and I'm grateful. 571 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 1: Enjoy your week. Be back next week. Goodbye,