Keke Palmer Defends “Southern Fried Rice” Series After Cultural Representation Criticism
Keke Palmer addressed backlash Wednesday night time (October 22) after her new present Southern Fried Rice drew criticism for its portrayal of cultural id and setting inside a traditionally Black school.
The actress and media mogul posted a video and prolonged assertion on social media, responding to what she described as “some controversial feedback” following the October 22 premiere of the coming-of-age collection on her digital platform, KeyTV.
The present follows KoKo Johnson, a Korean-American woman raised by Southern Black mother and father, as she navigates life at a fictional HBCU in Atlanta.
Now y’all KNOW I like a great story with some coronary heart, a little bit humor, and a lotta mess! 😅
Introducing @KeyTVNetwork’s Southern Fried Rice, a brand new coming-of-age dramedy set at a fictional HBCU.
Watch the trailer and catch the double-episode premiere this Wednesday at 12PM/ET on… pic.twitter.com/4t76fVjUnt
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) October 21, 2025
“Now, Southern Fried Rice was created by Nakia Stephens, and while I can’t speak to her inspiration for the show, I can speak to her dedication as a creative,” Keke Palmer mentioned in her video.
Critics on-line questioned the choice to heart the present round an Asian lead character in a historically Black academic house, with some accusing Palmer of misrepresenting Black tradition and diluting the mission of KeyTV.
One person wrote, “Wasn’t KeyTV built to spotlight black creators? SO WHY would a Black woman need to tell a story of an Asian girl going to an HBCU??”
Keke Palmer Details KeyTV’s Vision
Palmer, nonetheless, stood agency on the present’s function and the broader mission of her platform.
“What you like is subjective, but the support of Black creatives is not, and it’s a task that KeyTV takes on with pride,” she mentioned. “Because if you want to be a creative, you have to be able to create, and that takes money, and it’s KeyTV’s mission to find the funds for you to be in practice, for you to experience trial and error, and to take your projects off the page and get more than one chance to do it in action.”
She additionally emphasised the significance of illustration behind the digital camera, not simply on display.
“As a professional tap dancer and court jester for most of my life 🙂 NOT COMPLAINING! I can tell you that it’s imperative people of color have jobs outside of just being the talent or the player on the team,” she wrote. “It’s my mission with KeyTV to help fund and support the creators of color behind the scenes, giving them a chance to tell their own story.”
As knowledgeable faucet dancer and courtroom jester for many of my life 🙂 NOT COMPLAINING! I can let you know that it’s crucial folks of coloration have jobs outdoors of simply being the expertise or the participant on the staff. It’s my mission with KeyTV to assist fund and assist the creators of… pic.twitter.com/i5hYsoRO1z
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) October 23, 2025
Palmer highlighted the present’s Atlanta setting and its various forged and crew as a part of its authenticity.
She inspired viewers to observe the collection earlier than forming opinions and to permit house for inventive storytelling that doesn’t all the time observe anticipated paths.
Check out another reactions to the present beneath.
KeKe Palmer AND Timbaland are some pandering m#### fuckas if I ever noticed one.
Wasn’t KeyTV constructed to highlight black creators? SO WHY would a Black girl want to inform a narrative of an Asian woman going to an HBCU??
Why are they obsessive about packaging black tradition onto Asian ladies??? pic.twitter.com/euhY42qfju— Jas (@Jas_1019) October 22, 2025
Keke Palmer noticed this clip whereas doom scrolling one night time and mentioned “you know what? let’s get in the studio!” 😭 pic.twitter.com/u1v1Ow8Yd5
— kwasi 🇬🇭 (@toky0_martian) October 22, 2025
Nah i knew one thing was incorrect w Keke Palmer when she acted on this film pic.twitter.com/Yu4cRdHTNB
— ēdē (@theidi_) October 22, 2025
They frying keke palmer for that HBCU present and it’s so effectively deserved as a result of woman what the f### 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/hjb3Cb2mQG
— f (@faavouurrr) October 22, 2025
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