Issa Rae Says You ‘Need to Be Smarter’ About Pitching Shows With a Diverse Cast Now That DEI ‘Has Become a Bad Word’: ‘Hollywood Is in an Identity Crisis’

Issa Rae recently told The Wrap that “Hollywood is in an identity crisis right now” and is experiencing a downturn in representation both behind and in front of the camera.

“I started ‘Awkward Black Girl’ because there was a dearth of representation in the industry, and it felt like this was my opportunity to put an archetype into the space that didn’t exist at the time,” Rae said. “And now, even after so much progress, we’re kind of back to limited representation and having to stake claim of our stories. We’re back where we started, in a way, but wiser.”

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Rae added that some execs of color have told her that they “can’t cosign you.” She thinks this is a symptom of the industry “tiptoeing” around elevating diverse storytellers in light of recent clampdowns on DEI policies.

“I’m seeing it. Just blatantly. People aren’t investing like they were before,” Rae asserted. “[DEI] has changed meanings and has become a bad word.”

Although Rae maintained that her goal to elevate inclusivity in Hollywood will “never” change, she said that she has to get more creative about how she pitches her projects.

“You have to be smarter about how you package and market [projects],” Rae explained. “You tell them, ‘It’s not a show about a Black woman, it’s a show about class.’ As icky as that might feel, it gets the show sold.”

Rae recalled that she was approached about a television adaptation of he YouTube series “Awkward Black Girl.” However, it was pitched as a complete overhaul with an entirely new cast.

Rae quipped, “They talked about recasting everyone, including me, with celebrities, so that was an easy no thank you.”