In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Issa Rae spoke out about her relationship with actress and model, Lauren London.
Issa revealed that after Lauren took offense to comments she had made about her in both interviews and her memoir, the pair eventually made peace.
She said that it was thanks to Nipsey Hussle, Lauren’s late partner, that the two rekindled their friendship after he encouraged Issa to reach out to Lauren.
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Why did Issa Rae and Lauren London fall out?
In 2011, Rae made her web series, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.
In interviews at the time, and in her memoir, Issa explained that TV executives had suggested that instead of starring in her own show, Rae should cast a light-skinned Black woman, such as Lauren London, who Issa described as: “Actress/video girl/Lil Wayne’s baby’s mother.”
In Vanity Fair, Issa states that the naming Lauren was one of her “biggest regrets” and that Lauren “took offense to that.”
In a 2012 interview with Washington Post, Issa explained that one “non- black” executive had “started rattling off how J would have to evolve” if his company bought the series. Issa said that he suggesting casting a “video-vixen type of actress.”
She said: “I’m not a smooth, sexy, long-haired vixen.”
Nipsey Hussle helped fix Issa and Lauren’s relationship
During the interview with Vanity Fair, Issa explained that her and Lauren made peace at Diddy’s birthday party two years ago, thanks to Nipsey Hussle who encourage Issa to make things right.
Speaking about Nipsey, Lauren’s late partner, Issa said:
“He was like, ‘You should just talk to her. Let me set it up.’ It actually sparked an amazing two-hour conversation. We had so much in common.”
Issa described how the conversation with Lauren went:
“She was like, ‘People don’t understand, I’m an awkward Black girl.’ In the same way that I was upset about the limited portrayal of Black women, she was like, ‘People do the same thing to me.’ I completely get that.”
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