The TV show ‘The Talk” made headlines last week because Sheryl Underwood a well known comedic actress made some rather disparaging comments about afro hair.
Just to give some background, the conversation started with mention of Heidi Klum who has mixed race children and saves their hair every time she cuts it. She describes her kids’ hair as ‘huge Afros’ and saves the hair in baggies.
Sheryl, in all her comedic glory stops the conversation to make the ultimate jokey joke at the ‘saving afro hair’ part of the conversation; she responded “Why would you save Afro hair?”
She went on to imply that women that go to a salon do not prefer that type of hair, they would never ask for “Curly, nappy, beady hair”.
Then to add insult to injury to the joke, when her co-host Sarah Gilbert revealed that she also saves her children’s hair, Sheryl said that of course, that was different because “It is probably some beautiful, long, silky stuff”.
Here’s a clip of the show…
Oh believe me when I tell you twitter was lit up like a Christmas tree with comments expressing how hurtful those comments were, women and men went HAM on how irresponsible her opinion was even though it was just an opinion. There were those who thought that she was totally out of line with her comments:
The fact that someone said Heidi Klum embraces Blackness better than Sheryl Underwood. Log me off this life, I quit.
It’s not time for us to bash @sherylunderwood its time for us to examine why Blk women come at each other the way we do
Question @sherylunderwood when your white audience was laughing at how “nasty” #naturalhair is…you realize they’re laughing at you right?
And there were those who thought it was just a joke and we shouldn’t all be so sensitive:
@sherylunderwood they are just jokes she is a comedian it’s entertainment people really need to stop with all this self hatred stuff
I seen that episode..and it really was not a big deal. I thought nothing of it….chuckled a little
damn @sherylunderwood cant make a simple ass joke anymore -_- smmfh ppl are too sensitive these days .. #KeepDoingYourThingSheryl
What the heck was Sheryl thinking??? First off, she is not even funny in my opinion. I do not know why she would make these awful and disparaging remarks. It sounds a lot like self hatred to me. I am sure the real hair she is sporting under those ridiculous wigs is coarse and afro like just like a lot of people of color and soooo what!!! Was this said for laughs?? She could have found a better way. Her being a comedian doesn’t give her license to say bull s like this. Think lady. You were not funny but damned foolish for sure. Love yourself and your hair. Try wearing it. I think anything would be better than those wiggy wigs. You’re knocking afro hair but sporting those insane and most unbecoming wrecks on your head. They do not add to your looks at all. Try your own, it MIGHT add a lil something.
cheryl is definitely self hating. I’ve seen her perform before and she definitely has issues being a dark skinned African American female and just be glad in general. I definitely think it was inappropriate for the audience but I definitely think a lot of black people think that too, especially older black people. I could see my mother laughing at that joke. All the women on her side of family have criticized and haggled me for my natural hair. when I started transitioning they said that my husband would run for the hills if he has to deal with all that nappy stress , my husband is not black, fyi. Another one of thier reasonings. We’re still married by the way lol. That attitude is rampant in our community and needs to really be addressed. So I think it’s kind of unfair to blame and shame Cheryl for having an opinion that a lot of black people have. I’d rather her to keep making a certain sector of the black community laugh and have an internal change in her peception of her blackness than simply make a meaningless public apology and maintain her beliefs. she seems like a deeply sad an insecure person and I will pray for her to find happiness and peace with her reflection in the mirror.
BLACK WOMEN NEED MORE SELF-ESTEEM…
I sometimes wonder bout her. She doesn’t seem to embrace her blackness.
I don’t know how she can’t embrace it, she’s blacker than 12midnight.
She hates herself clearly.
Well we know her hair aint real! Moving on….
Just….look at her face. It screams special
She’s talking about herself. Self hate is so ugly
She’s tacky and always has been.
I guess her mirror is broken! Snatch that wig and make up off!!!#lovinmykinkycurlynaturalhairanddarkchocolateskin #nofilterallnatural
Self hatred….. Hope the old dog can be taught, love your self
I think Heidi is smart–natural hair is becoming more popular, I definitely can see women rocking more natural looking weaves
What can you expect from a woman that wears wigs daily? Annnnnnd, it was a joke. I joke about my natural hair all the time, but its what God gave me so I have no problems wearing my natural hair.
While I don’t agree it’s her right to feel any way she wants about her hair. We have so many more important issues to worry about in our black culture that hair should be the least of our worries! I wish people felt as strong about black on black crime as they do about hair!
I felt some kind of way about this. Especially as a person who just started transitioning a few months ago. But it didn’t make me wanna change my mind about growing out my natural beautiful hair. I feel like what she said was ignorant and made her look ridiculously stupid because she herself is of African American descent. Then says she’s sorry for offending people but not sorry for what she said. Girl u can keep that apology then.
She wears wig anyway so not surprise what a joke at blk people expense.
Gums
Well my take everyone has there own thoughts it doesn’t go for every one..I also keep my son’s hair & don’t cut my girls split ends my children aren’t mixed nut have beautiful hair..I embrace all hair types.. after all she only wear wigs so to each its own
I’m confused by her comment because she’s pulled her wig off before to reveal what is under there. So if she’s truly ashamed of her natural hair would she have done that? Idk, I find ppl do and say things believing one has nothing to do with the other.
mmm, I’m, pretty sure this story is elderly. Though I complete disagree with what she said. She can be happy wearing her hair pieces, but there’s no need to criticise others.
Self-hate attempting to be covered up by her inappropriate humor.
I understand that she is well educated with Masters Degrees etc. How can anyone tell? Sometimes one’s ignorance hides one’s intelligence. Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
All them gums
Aaaaaaaaand….she’s FUGLY as hell
This is coming from a woman who looks like a monkey. Moving on….
Lol… Opinions. Everybody has one, even idiots and @zzholes. She got exactly what she wanted..attention / hype / ratings. Don’t be mad. Sista trying to get paid by any means necessary. At the end of the day she has to be happy with herself.
hmph idk about her, maybe she was in the moment
She was trying to get a laugh and she did it the wrong way. But y’all, we really need to let it go, look at Sheryl’s gums, just let her make it!!!
Some of these insults are not any better either. Black as midnight, monkey, old dog. Wow. And no I’m not agreeing with what she said either.
She’s probably endured some skin bullying as a child causing her to feel that way. It’s so sad, but she acted an ass.
I dont like what she said either but more importantly why are SISTERS saying she looks like a monkey. Come on ladies. Black is beautiful and degrading her isnt helping us as BLACK WOMEN.
She sounded like “Ruckus” from the show ” Boondooks”…
Wow .
I don’t agree at all with what she said but it is her right as an individual to feel that way. Plus we already know whats under those wigs.lol
Just tweeted her….didn’t know it’s an old episode, doesn’t change what she said even though she issued an apology. Sad.
Obviously her comments were made based off of her own insecurities about her hair. Not all black people feel that way. Black hair in beautiful. We have so many different shades of black and brown, different lengths, mixtures of curl patterns, densities and the abilities to do endless things with our natural hair. So please believe, we do embrace and “save our afro’s”.
each person has the right to their opinions ….
People are too sensitive. Its not like what she said, the opinion of one person you don’t even know, will change the value of your child’s fro hair and if it does than you need to do some assessment. If you laughed at the JOKE, great, if you didn’t like it, that’s fine too. Just move on.
What an idiot
Sheryl Underwood is unattractive, so you have to imagine all the insecurities she grew up with and obviously still has. The assumption that all fros are nappy is ridiculous too.
I hate when people say “it’s just a joke” when black women and their hair are ALWAYS the butt of every joke, the shit gets old and it’s not just a joke any more.
Love my hair natural or with a weave..its how God made me beautiful
Not saying what she said was right but funny some of yall are calling her ignorant or that she doesn’t embrace her blackness yet yall insult her looks by pointing out how “black” she is, she looks like a monkey or her gums…lol smh the same things “European beauty standards” would could consider unattractive right? Doesn’t sound like yall truly embrace “blackness” either lol. Grow up and get a clue!!
I think she mad a distasteful joke. Shes a comedian what do u expect??? She is not aware of her own hair and her opinion is as such. Before I ditched the chemicals I thought my hair was “nappy” ignorance is bliss. I love my curls and maybe one day she will love hers
She is a hot mess
im still stuck on the whole saving hair thing…
Dude who cares, this story is super old. Not only that, this came out the mouth of a chick who look like Wesley Snipes in the face lol
I don’t think people should call her names. She apologized. Now when white people say monkey or whatever people get upset. #notkool
Wow!! Keep the self-depreciation for people of Color going!!!! Wow!!
Look at her.. With her wig on … Lol…This isn’t the first stupid thing she’s said, won’t be the last,
I feel the natural hair community is very sensitive to these comments. I say to each it’s own. It was a joke, but some truth was in it. I have coarse hair and I own that. I would never want to a salon or beauty store to get that look. Just my opinion.
As a soror, I am appalled. You obviously forget what being a “Sister” means…and just for fun…if you were to remove your wig, weave or whatever, what would we find…???? I’m just saying…