Actress Issa Rae bemoaned the rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in Hollywood, suggesting those in the entertainment industry need to be “smarter” about how they pitch projects now.
“I’m seeing it,” the 40-year-old actress, writer, and producer said at TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit.
“Just blatantly. People are scared and just not necessarily investing the same way that they would have before. Even executives who, you know, are of color are also like tiptoeing like, ‘Well, I can’t co-sign you because I’m going to lose my job.’ And that’s scary to see and sad to see because it’s kind of like a bad word now,” Rae added.
An inside look during Issa Rae’s backstage photo shoot during #TheWrapCreators Summit in L.A., presented by @wWhalar at The Lighthouse Campus pic.twitter.com/7TxCxiY9Xg
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) April 11, 2026
“We all know that, typically, when we’re talking about diversity, equity [and] inclusion, it is about giving people opportunities that would otherwise not have them as opposed to pity hires and pity shows and the like,” the “Insecure” actress continued. “It’s changed meanings and has become a bad word, but it hasn’t affected what we do and who I create for and what our company creates for, and who we prioritize. And it never will.”
“I started ‘Awkward Black Girl’ because there was a dearth of representation in the industry, and it felt like this was my opportunity to put an archetype into the space that didn’t exist at the time,” Rae said. “And now, even after so much progress, we’re kind of back to limited representation and having to stake claim of our stories. We’re back where we started, in a way, but wiser.”
Rae, who canceled a sold-out show at the Kennedy Center last year after President Donald Trump’s involvement and being named chairman, suggested more creative ways to get projects through.
“You have to be smarter about how you package and market [projects],” she explained. “You tell them, ‘It’s not a show about a Black woman, it’s a show about class.’ As icky as that might feel, it gets the show sold.”
Rae’s take on the demise of DEI in Hollywood sparked lively reactions on social media.
“I have to be smarter about my racist race hustling show ideas that people don’t want to watch”.
— Victor Reeeee (@EmTeaVe) April 12, 2026
Excellent so putting the focus back on the story and characters being engaging juts like viewers have been begging for
— K (@KennethRSiegel) April 12, 2026
DEI made Hollywood productions suck. We are still feeling the effects of sub-par acting, writing, directing. Not to mention the endless reboots, prequels, sequels – most of Hollywood is limited talent now to come up with new and interesting stories.
— Emma James (@EmmaJam47646246) April 13, 2026
It’s terrible! Instead of advertising some identitarian bullshit, she now has to make intelligent arguments.
— Antónia Barata (@Pipolinna) April 12, 2026
“Back where we started”? You mean equal under the law?
— Michael Cromwell (@MCromwell1976) April 12, 2026
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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