Baby, this is Keke Palmer!
After a successful weekend at the box office as the lead in Jordan Peele’s latest horror cinematic masterpiece, Palmer became the center of a conversation surrounding colorism in Hollywood. A Twitter user alleged that fellow actress Zendaya, who also got her start as a kid appearing in Disney programming, was further along than the Illinois native due to the hue of their skin.
“I’d like someone to do a deep-drive on the similarities and differences between Keke Palmer and Zendaya’s careers,” wrote the Twitter user. “This may be one of the clearest examples of how colorism plays out in Hollywood. They were both child-stars, but their mainstream popularity is very different.”
She also went on to dispute people’s claims that “Nope” was Palmer’s “breakout role,” noting that the 28-year-old entertainer has “done sooo much throughout her career.”
Palmer took to Twitter to address the comments herself, reminding folks that she is an “incomparable talent,” while listing off a few accolades for anyone who may have forgotten the extensive resume she has built at such an early age.
“A great example of colorism is to believe I can be compared to anyone,” she shared. “I’m the youngest talk show host ever. The first Black woman to star in her own show on Nickelodeon, & the youngest & first Black Cinderella on Broadway,” she shared. “I’m an incomparable talent. Baby, THIS, is Keke Palmer.”
I’ve been a leading lady since I was 11 years old. I have over 100+ credits, and currently starring in an original screenplay that’s the number one film at the box office #NOPE. I’ve had a blessed career thus far, I couldn’t ask for more but God continues to surprise me.🥹🥳❤️🙏🏾
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) July 24, 2022
Peele’s “Nope” made history at the box office this past weekend drawing in an estimated $44 million in ticket sales- “the biggest of the pandemic for an original screenplay. The film is his most expensive project to date. Palmer starred alongside “Get Out’s” Daniel Kaluuya in the thriller. His last film “Us” drew in $71 million in ticket sales when it debuted in 2019.
