‘Black-ish’ Creator Kenya Barris Annoyed With Diversity Conversation: It’s ridiculous.

Actor Anthony Anderson (L) and writer-producer Kenya Barris

The conversation surrounding diversity in Hollywood doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, anytime soon. However, there are some who have had enough. This week, a conversation during the Black-ish panel at the Television Critics Association summer press tour got awkward when a reporter asked what percentage of the ABC comedy’s audience is African American. According to reports, the reporter phrased his question, stating that there was initially

“uncertainty about how [the show] was going to be received by the African-American community” and that Donald Trump had “weighed and tweeted something about it being racist” — during the broadcast network’s last session of the day.

Kendrick Lamar on set with Black-Ish creator, Kenya Barris. Rumor has it, he may appear on an upcoming episode!

The show’s creator Kenya Barris, responded:

I will be so happy when diversity is not a word. I have the best job in the world and I am constantly having to talk about diversity. I have the best actors. It’s ridiculous. We’re in a time when everything is about black and white, and this and that. We get opportunities and we are happy to be the people who can step up and say, ‘We can do this.’ But these are amazing actors. It doesn’t matter who is watching our show. The fact is that they’re watching it.

He added,

 I feel like every question at every panel… I’m so tired of talking about diversity. These are amazing, talented actors and amazing writers who give their all … and it’s clouding the conversation.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross, who stars on the show, chimed in stating,

Is that a question that you’ve asked other shows that are not predominantly of a certain color?

When the writer responded “not necessarily”. Ellis added,

I think sometimes that those questions continue the conversation in a direction that does not help the conversation.

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