Amanda Seales/Photo Courtesy of Instagram
Amanda Seales, an outspoken Black activist, has not had the best track record with Shaun King. But after Samaria Rice, the late 12-year-old Tamir Rice’s mother, blasted King for raising thousands of dollars for her son without her consent, the Insecure actress entered The Shade Room’s comments to defend him while also questioning Samaria’s motives, surprisingly.
Following The Shade Room posting Samaria’s public address to King, Seales decided to add her own two cents into the growing controversy, writing in a comment, “It’s no secret that I have side-eyed SK. However, bigger picture, nobody finds it somewhat odd that she’s just, out the blue, going out of her way and being given EVERY platform, with no receipts shown, to “call out,” one by one, black activists/organizers that have been the visible faces of the movement? Just food for thought….”
Samaria has often taken certain Black activists to task for what she views as centering themselves over the victims of police brutality and being performative, saying in a statement obtained by The Cut in May, “These families must be provided the resources to sustain themselves, their families, and their work dedicated to building community infrastructure…Stop celebrity activism; stop corporate investments that support lobbyists for this norm; put an end to the political economy’s parasitism on Black death and poverty.
News Onyx reported in March that Samaria called out activist Tamika Mallory, saying that she was “clout-chasing” in a podcast. She’s also previously discussed her disappointment with the Black Lives Matter organization and its co-founder Patrice Cullors.
Related Post: Samaria Rice Wants Families In The Front; Not Celebrity Activists
Though Seales is no stranger to controversy herself, she found herself getting dragged alongside King this week for her comments towards Samaria, which did not sit well with many.
“Not Amanda Seales on Instagram riding for Shaun King & draggin’ mother of Tamar Rice,” one person tweeted about the former The Real host. “I already couldn’t stand her. She gave damsel vibes when she tried to make us hate Issa. Now, she’s being problematic yet again. How much u getting paid to lie, cry & profit off police brutality.”
Another user added, “Amanda Seales caping for Shaun King. She said Tamir Rice’s mother calling ppl out w/ no receipts. Uhhhh, the receipts are you mfs are clearly getting rich off their loved ones & they’re left w/ nothing. No real support, no change.”
Addressing Seale’s “out of the blue” remark, one user stated, “Samira Rice has been rightfully calling Talcum X out for years. None of this is “out the blue,” and Amanda Seales is an idiot b/c who TF are you to police when and how a grieving mother calls out those who’ve literally profited off the death of her child?”
Yikes!
Do you think Seales has a point, or should she have just minded her own business? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comment section.