AKA Sorority Says Amanda Seales Wearing Apparel On ‘Insecure’ Was ‘Unauthorized’: We Are Taking Steps To Protect Our Brand

AKA Sorority Says Amanda Seales Wearing Apparel On ‘Insecure’ Was ‘Unauthorized’: We Are Taking Steps To Protect Our Brand

Update #1 (Oct. 26): AKAs have set the record straight after Amanda Seales was criticized after her character wore the sorority’s apparel on the season premiere of Insecure. 

While there was speculation that the popular HBO series received the green light from the organization to represent it on the small screen, a letter that appears to be issued to sorority members, obtained by The Neighborhood Talk, says otherwise.

Dated for today (Tuesday, Oct. 26), the letter reads:

“Dear Sorors: 

We were made aware of the unauthorized use of our brand on the HBO show Insecure early yesterday morning (Monday, October 25, 2021) and are taking steps to protect our brand. Please allow the Corporate Office to handle this matter. We all have a duty to protect our brand.”

It continues by discouraging members from interacting with others online about it.

“You can do your part by refraining from engaging with anyone involved with the show or with anyone, including other sorors, on social media about this matter. Thank you for your continued assistance and cooperation.”

Original Story: Amanda Seales is shutting down people who are upset with her for wearing AKA merchandise!

Yesterday (Sunday, Oct. 24th), the final season of HBO’s hit series Insecure premiered. While the show mainly centers around Issa Rae and Yvonne Orji‘s characters, Amanda Seales‘ Tiffany DuBois character garnered some attention during the episode, and it’s resulted in the actress getting some backlash!

Specifically, Amanda Seales‘ character wore what appeared to be AKA (Alpha Kappa Alpha) regalia, and some fans took issue with the 40-year-old star representing the sorority on-screen without being a member in real life. For context, AKA is the United States’ first historically African-American sorority. It was formed at Howard University in early 1908, and the sorority is notable for representing itself with a combination of green and light pink. Famous members include Gizelle Bryant, Kamala Harris, and Eboni K. Williams.

Gizelle Bryant

Kamala Harris

Eboni K. Williams

While some AKA members weren’t happy, the vast majority of Twitter users appeared to side with Amanda Seales on the matter. You can see some people’s reactions to the controversy down below:

In response to the backlash, Amanda Seales addressed the matter on her Instagram Story. She said:

“I don’t know why people keep asking me if I’m a soror. I am not a soror. Tiffany is a soror. Tiffany is a character on a TV show. I didn’t write the character–I play the character! I’m not a soror–I’m an actress! And I’m playing a character on a TV show. I think reality TV got folks f**ked up because it’s like ‘It’s all the same!’ But I’m just playing a character. That’s it! Y’all know that though. But some of y’all don’t. I feel like some folks really forget.”

In another upload, Amanda Seales adds that, while some websites say she’s an AKA, she is not a member of the sorority:

“Y’all may have Googled it and then this site [is] saying s**t that ain’t true! I am not a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority–my school SUNY Purchase didn’t even have a chapter!… I would be honored to be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, but I simply am not. When I am Tiffany, I do wear the letters with pride and regard and respect for those who did cross the burning sands.”

 

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What do you think about the controversy around Amanda Seales playing an AKA on Insecure? Share your thoughts by commenting down below to let us know!