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The Nara Smith Hate Has Everything To Do With You — Nothing To Do With Her
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that TikTok would become such a big part of my life. I mean, I talked big shit, real big shit when it initially blew up. But I've come to love it! It's like Pinterest but in video format and somehow way better than YouTube (if you're ADHD) – a one-stop shop for inspiring everything from home decor to dinner recipes. And that's exactly what Nara Smith is! Foodie inspiration at its finest. Yet, she's caught so much backlash, and I can't figure out why.
Let the trolls tell it, and it has everything to do with her being Mormon. There's so much concern about her being part of a religion that, allegedly, dislikes Black people. Newsflash! Nara is a big girl who can make her own decisions. So, I find it weird that the internet cares more about a harmful community (while also causing harm via trolling) that would most certainly be most harmful to 22-year-old Nara, who interacts with the religion regularly.
@naraazizasmith he asked for it the next day again so this might become a staple 🫶🏽 #easyrecipes #homemade #pizza #bbqchicken #fypシ #marriage #homecooking
Particularly because she's only guilty of posting cooking videos – she doesn't speak on her religion. So, if it is Mormon propaganda, it's very subtle because a million and one women are cooking for TikTok, myself included. If a woman cooking for TikTok is the problem, why have we never had an issue with cooking shows with female leads? I watched a woman double fry White Castle burgers for her husband on TikTok, and no one batted an eyelash! Not one of these other cooking women is being harassed in the manner that Nara is.
And, because I don't think you all harass actual Christian influencers in this manner, I simply cannot believe that is what all the beef is about.
Furthermore, and to my knowledge, she has a modeling career. She has our own money. And, part of that money is the check that TikTok cuts for engagement. With that information, at best, we can assume Nara is an aesthetic but that aesthetic is not aligned with #tradwife life. Forget the aforementioned points -- the pregnant belly alone hanging out of crop tops makes the #tradwife “point” moot. (A quarter of trad wife life is the visual aesthetic–it’s cosplaying a 1950s white wife through and through – so be fucking for real.) It seems that there's been this narrative created simply because people do not like her.
@naraazizasmith do we like the time stamps?🫶🏽 #easyrecipes #whatieatinaday #fulldayofeating #pregnant #pregnancycravings #fypシ #homecooking
Let's call a spade a spade. What we're witnessing is racism, colorism, envy – crabs in a barrel bullshit.
Nara smith wasn’t broke or jobless when she met him, she definitely still isn’t broke and jobless now. She’s literally a runway model that still has modeling gigs, a social media career and a rich father. They think she’s a stay at home mum because she’s making food videos😭 https://t.co/ePOvTWWrTQ
— Sunrise⁸ 🎀🏴☠️ (@__sunriseii) March 14, 2024
Nara is married to Lucky Blue Smith, a fashion model who gained a lot of popularity in the early 2010s due to a massive social media presence, especially on Tumblr. Many are threatened by the idea that this Black woman is leading a life of leisure in the company of a white man, especially with some level of fame. This goes for white and Black women who dislike her. In a 2021 interview, FKA Twigs highlighted a sentiment amid the backlash she received from her time dating Robert Pattinson, that I imagine to be similar – the fantasy his fans had of seeing him with "someone white and blonde."
As for the hate from other Black women, there appears to be some cognitive dissonance. Black women who claim to want a soft life but have not achieved it for one reason or another. Because if you've tried to prepare anything that Nara cooks, it's not much more time-consuming than any other type of weekly meal prep.
"Why is this woman cooking in a gown? Why is she being extra making the bread from scratch?"
It's simply because she can. Because isn't that what feminism is about? The right to fucking choose!
@naraazizasmith drooling watching this😮💨 #baking #husbandwife #pregnancycravings #easyrecipes #coupletok #fypシ #homecooking #cookies
But, at the end of the day, there's a lot of groupthink around Nara. I think it's all misplaced, and ironically, I think it further proves how easily the general public can be converted into cult members. Perhaps, that explains their concerns with Mormon propoganda – understanding how vulnerable they view themselves (this is sarcasm).
Not once have I watched Nara's content and had a strong urge to convert to Mormonism. But, instead, I watch and feel inspired to make as much at home as possible based on my bandwidth. She makes it look easy, and as someone who has spent the past month indulging myself and my baby in fresh bread and cinnamon rolls, inspired by her content – it's satisfying to know I'm able to subsidize the preservative and cost of certain treats.
While making bread in beautiful gowns is not realistic, I do think if you let her inspire you, you can find that some of the other aspects of her lifestyle are within reach.
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Featured image via Nara Smith/ Instagram
Motor City native, Atlanta living. Sagittarius. Writer. Sexpert. Into all things magical, mystical, and unknown. I'll try anything at least once but you knew that the moment I revealed that I was a Sag.
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."