*You know how white folks have that one Black friend that comes to their defense when accusations of racism are hurled?
Cue Amber Riley, who is speaking out in defense of former “Glee” costar Lea Michele, who was recently accused of being a diva toward many of her former Black castmates.
On Thursday, Riley dished with journalist Danielle Young on Instagram Live, about racism and the ongoing protests over the death of George Floyd, and she made time to comment on the Lea controversy.
As noted by PEOPLE, Riley made clear that she doesn’t think Michele is racist, but she hopes the actress “has grown.”
“I’m not going to say that Lea Michele is racist. That’s not what I’m saying,” said Riley, who played Mercedes Jones on the musical series. “That was the assumption because of what’s going on right now in the world and it happened toward a black person. I’m not going to say that she’s racist.”
She added, “She’s also pregnant and I think that everybody needs to chill. Y’all dragged her for a couple of days.”
“But at the same time, in my inbox there are a lot of black actors and actresses telling me their stories and were letting me know they have dealt with the same things being on set, being terrorized by the white girls that are the leads of the show,” she said.
OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: HelloFresh Ends Partnership with Lea Michele After Former Co-stars Blast Her Over Racism
When it comes to how non-white actors are treated on most Hollywood productions, Riley noted, “We were even told, we were expendable; the colored girls, the black girls are expendable,” she explained. “I’m talking about the culture of Hollywood right now and how they treat black characters, black men, black women. I’m talking about the culture.”
She also confirmed that Lea recently reached out to her for the frost time in two in two years.
“I wish Lea Michele well, I hope that she has an amazing pregnancy, I hope that she has grown,” Riley said. “… That [statement] she put out, I didn’t read it because I told y’all I don’t give a s— about it. … She reached out to me, I responded to her and that’s where it ends for me. I ain’t talk to that girl in two years.”
She added, “I have no hatred or ill will on that end. I want to make that very clear.”
View this post on Instagram
On Wednesday, Ware referenced Michele’s message and suggested she should take further action by donating to a worthy cause.
“Perceived? Purcieved? Purse? Open your purse??????????????” Ware wrote on Twitter, sharing a GoFundMe campaign for James Scurlock, 22, who was fatally shot in Omaha, Nebraska, over the weekend while protesting Floyd’s murder.
Perceived? Purcieved? Purse?
Open your purse??????????????https://t.co/pQ71xtsyxD— SAMEYAAAAAA (@Sammie_Ware) June 3, 2020
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
