Kenya Barris Addresses Critics Who Claim He Has An Obsession w/ Sharing Stories Centered Around Interracial Couples: I’ll Do A Verzuz For Who’s Black, In Terms Of Who’s Put Out Black Sh*t

Kenya Barris

Kenya Barris Addresses Critics Who Claim He Has An Obsession w/ Sharing Stories Centered Around Interracial Couples: I’ll Do A Verzuz For Who’s Black, In Terms Of Who’s Put Out Black Sh*t

It looks like Kenya Barris is finally addressing his critics!

During a recent interview on ‘Sway In The Morning,’ writer/director Kenya Barris talked about the criticism he faces and how many feel he has a fixation on sharing stories that shine a light on interracial couples and families.

When asked for his take on the backlash he receives, Barris said,

“I feel like it’s crazy. I feel like I–it happened because I did a show about my family that I’m super proud of, ‘Blackish.’ My wife’s biracial, the kids look like my actual kids. Then there was a spin off with Yara [Shahidi] who’s amazing, super proud of that spin off…”

He continued,

“There was a spinoff about the mom character’s life, based around my kids’ mom’s life and the things she went through…Then I did a show on Netflix that was based on me playing me…that’s where it starts. But that’s all based on my family.”

Kenya Barris & His Family

The ‘Blaskish’ creator then ran down his resume to remind his naysayers of the many projects he has worked on.

“People don’t remember it’s ‘Intergalactic,’ it’s ‘Shaft,’ it’s ‘Coming To America,’ ‘The Game,’ it’s ‘Girlfriends,’ [and] it’s ‘Girls Trip.’ Literally, I’ll go head to head–I’ll do a Verzuz for who’s Black, in terms of who’s put out black sh*t…I feel like my career has been dedicated to us.”

Last month, Kenya Barris received criticism following the release of the teaser trailer for his latest project, ‘You People.’ The film follows an interracial couple — Ezra Cohen and Amira Mohammed — who are played by Jonah Hill and Lauren London, respectively — as they navigate the treacherous bridge that connects love and family.

Many social media users were frustrated and felt Kenya Barris was, once again, highlighting an interracial relationship.

One Twitter user said,

“i hope kenya barris eventually heals from whatever happened to him that has him feeling the need to make every project he does defend interracial relationships and being biracial. cause at this point i’m starting to think his ancestors were THE loving v. virginia”

Another user wrote,

“It’s sad to see how Hollywood is erasing black people with biracial actors & the few people who call it out on here y’all minimize it to “they’re just hating”. Kenya Barris is contributing to eraser by consistently casting biracial ppl as full black & it should be a conversation.”