“Nope” actress Keke Palmer does not appreciate being compared to Zendaya and even finds those comparisons to be overtly racist.
On Sunday, Palmer slammed anyone who would compare her career and talent to Zendaya. This comes amid buzz that “Nope” is Palmer’s breakout role, while 25-year-old Zendaya rose to mainstream fame after the premiere of the HBO series “Euphoria.”
Palmer wrote, “A great example of colorism is to believe I can be compared to anyone. 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. I’m an incomparable talent. Baby, THIS, is Keke Palmer.”
A great example of colorism is to believe I can be compared to anyone. 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. I’m an incomparable talent. Baby, THIS, is Keke Palmer.
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) July 24, 2022
The former child star continued, “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.”
The Jordan Peele sci-fi horror film “Nope” has been a box office smash so far, bringing in an estimated $44 million over opening weekend.
The controversy appears to come from a now-viral tweet from a fan that said, “I’d like someone to do a deep-drive on the similarities and differences between Keke Palmer and Zendaya’s careers. 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.”
“It’s so interesting seeing the conversation around Keke Palmer having her breakout or superstar moment and it’s wild we live in different worlds because in my household Keke been a star for forever Akeelah & The Bee was my dad’s favorite movie it went triple platinum in my home,” journalist Aiyana N. Ishmael replied.
“They are 2 incredibly talented Virgo Queens who each have an Emmy, but in different categories. Keke Palmer has done sooo much throughout her career, yet ppl are saying #NopeMovie is her breakout role? #Euphoria is what is considered Zendaya’s breakout role, but that makes sense,” the original poster continued in a follow-up.
Comments on Palmer’s self-congratulatory post were mixed, with some fans applauding her candor and others disparaging her for bragging while saying they had never heard of her.
“Very modest as well, I see,” one person hit back.
“Brag, brag, brag. You could try to be more humble and grateful for starters,” someone else replied.