Amber Riley talks to Ziwe about Lea Michele’s alleged racism

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Amber RileyPhoto credit: Momodu Mansaray (Getty Images)

A new season of Ziwe has arrived, and with it, some of the most uncomfortable interviews you’ll ever see. In this week’s episode, former Glee cast member Amber Riley sits down with Ziwe Fumudoh on the comedians’ eponymous show, and naturally, the conversation turns to her former co-star Lea Micheles, alleging racist bullying.

In 2020, Samantha Marie Ware, who appeared in 11 episodes of the teen musical, tweeted that Michele had done [her] first TV concert hell and perpetrated numerous traumatic microaggressions that made [her] question a career in Hollywood. After losing a brand partnership with HelloFresh, the actor responded with an apology for the Notes app, because apparently that’s what celebrities do.

You said that one of your famous colleagues was not racist. Did you mean she was? Ziwe asks, referring to one of Riley’s past interviews.

I don’t know which co-worker you’re talking about, I’ve had so many, Riley replies with a wink. (Because it’s Ziwe, she’s visibly stressed and tries to dodge the question at first.)

Amber Riley on diversity and racism | ZIWE | SHOW TIME

Controversy recently resurfaced after Michele landed one of Broadway’s most coveted roles as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. Her casting coincided with the departure of fellow Glee alum Jane Lynch, fueling speculation that there was lingering bad blood between the former co-stars.

Would you say your famous co-worker doesn’t see race and is actually rude to all of his co-workers? Ziwe continues.

I think she would probably say she doesn’t see race, but as we discussed earlier, everyone does, Riley says.

Elsewhere in the clip, the recent Dancing With The Stars winner doesn’t seem to look back on her Glee experience with any particular affection.

We have diversity training on our show, Ziwe tells her.

I wish our show had that, laughs Riley. We do not have.

Ziwe is now airing on Showtime.

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