Amanda Seales Appears on Club Shay Shay: Top 5 Takeaways

Amanda Seales, an actress many know for her role in Issa Rae’s series “Insecure”, appeared on Shannon Sharpe’s podcast “Club Shay Shay” and dropped several bombs. Sharpe’s podcast gained popularity after an unhinged interview with Kat Williams. Following that interview, Sharpe hosted guests ranging from Mo’Nique to Cam Newton. Due to Sharpe’s range of guests, his podcast interviews differ in topics. Becauses Seales is an academic, in addition to an actress, her interview ranged from her experience as a child actress to being in Hollywood as a Black woman. If you weren’t able to watch the entirety of the three-hour podcast, don’t worry: I did. Here, you can find the top five takeaways from Seales’ episode.

1. She was recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

Seales shared that growing up she often felt like she was different and that there was something wrong with her. It wasn’t until people on social media with autism spectrum disorder commented on her posts relating to her experiences. She felt seen. As a result, she proceeded to get testing and received an official diagnosis. Seales describes her current state as one of evolution. Despite getting a medical diagnosis, Sharpe placed a bit of doubt on Seales stirring up controversy from fans. He’s currently under fire for invalidating Seale’s experience.

2. She’s a scholar and academic of race with a masters degree in African American Studies from Columbia University.

As Black women, people often doubt your experiences with racism when you lack what they perceive to be facts, rather than emotions.  As a result, Seales believed it would be most valuable to her to receive higher education from a predominantly white institution. Despite racism being a valid experience based on feelings, many people regardless of race placed doubt on her stories. We see this when Seales is talking with Sharpe. He doubts as she recounts events in her past dealing with racism among both children and adults. In order to feel validated in her stories, Seales emphasizes that she is a “scholar and academic of race” allowing her to understand race from a personal and academic lens. The academic lens being one that Sharpe lacks and cannot challenge Seales on. Seales says that she is pro-Black and always wants to see Black people winning.

3. She’s never understood the narrative that she’s ‘difficult’ to work with.

Seales details her experience entering Hollywood from a young age as a child actress on Nickelodeon and the importance of obedience. Additionally, due to her experience being a Black woman, Seales always felt the need to be present and at her best even when people aren’t looking. It wasn’t until rumors started spreading in the press that Seales is difficult to work on the set of “Insecure” that she was met with the accusation. She makes it a point to acknowledge that it would have been difficult for her to be the mean girl on set when Issa Rae was the boss. That being said, if she was being “difficult” or a mean girl, it’s very likely that Rae could have fired her. Yet, Seales kept her role throughout the series with Rae never commenting on the accusations. Because of these stories that have no validity to them, Seales believes her advancement is being inhibited.

4. She has felt the need to protect Issa Rae.

Seales recounted being kicked out of the 2018 Black Emmys party because Rae’s assistant kicked her out. After the incident, Rae took the time to contact Seales and let her know that she had nothing to do with her being removed from the event. Prior to the party, Seales sensed animosity from Rae’s assistant, yet Rae believed it wasn’t her place to step in. The assistant reached out to Seales after the party and told her that she disliked her. In this instance, Seales believes that Rae should have protected her. Instead, Rae chose to stay silent. Despite this leading to the continuous spread of rumors about Seales, she chose to protect Rae. She stated, “I know that Issa is doing something within this business that so few people get to do.” Because Seales understands what it’s like to be a Black woman in Hollywood, she chose to protect someone who she believed did not reciprocate for her.

5. She relies on therapy and community to get through the media slander.

Seales shared that the love she feels for herself and the love she has for others are finally at the same level. She’s on Lexapro and sees a therapist, while being grateful for medication, friends and family for helping her get through the slander she has received in the media. Most importantly, she is learning to praise herself because she believes Black women are forced to dim their light. Seales encourages everyone to call themselves “amazing”, rather than waiting for someone else to do it.

For the full interview, watch the video below.