Page 30 - aruba-today-20180811

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 11 auguSt 2018
Issa Rae on 'Insecure,' Drake and being a Lyft driver

By MESFIN FEKADU happen and after all we
NEW YORK (AP) — Issa Rae's were just like, 'We have to
character on the hit series tell him, because he could
"Insecure," who works for a be working on something
nonprofit, does what most else.' Don't want to waste
people in need of extra his time."
cash do: She becomes a "It was just a phone call. He
Lyft driver. took it really well," she said.
But the idea of making the Fans petitioned for Rae to
show's lead character a bring Lawrence back on
part-time driver came from the show, but the creator
Rae's own experience: The said while she adores the
actress said she applied to show's fans, she's not in-
become a Lyft driver and terested in "creative feed-
was rejected. back."
"I did the application, went "If you're predicting the
to go get my stickers and show, then we're not doing
(stuff) but then got denied our job," she said.
because I had one traf- _______
fic infraction in 2014 ... so I FASHIONABLY FORTHRIGHT
didn't get to do it. I told the After Rae said in an inter-
writers' room ... (and) they view on the red carpet for
were so tickled at the idea the 2017 Emmys that she
that I would be a Lyft driver," was "rooting for everybody
she said. "In thinking about This image released by HBO shows Issa Rae in a scene from the series "Insecure," which airs Sun- black," T-shirts with those
just the rideshare phenom- day on HBO. words began selling online.
enon and how so many Associated Press But she said she didn't cre-
regular people are using it ate the shirts and isn't cash-
to make extra money, just en to Malibu last year to "HBO doesn't really allow third season show you kind ing in.
the stories that come from write the first episode of that." of feel like you know it. And "The only time I spoke up
that, it just made sense for season two of "Insecure." "It's great that HBO is like, even as writers you get a bit about it was when I saw
Issa to have that as a side She said she filled up the 'Nah, we're not taking any complacent like, 'We know on Facebook this Chinese
gig and all the awkward rental car with gas and had brand input,'" she added. this (stuff), we know what company selling them,
situations that could arise extra, and wanted to make "Oddly enough, for a later we're doing. We know who because they had Photo-
from being a Lyft driver." use of it. episode we got into some these people are. We got shopped my face to make
Rae had applied to drive She said her show and Lyft trouble because some formula.' And that's what it seem like I was selling the
for Lyft when she had driv- don't have a deal though: brands aren't about it." you never want." shirt. And I looked it up like,
Season three, which returns She spent six months writ- 'Who's doing this?' And it
Sunday on HBO (10:30 p.m. ing the episodes and three was a Chinese company
ET), picks up with Rae mov- months filming. It all started that wasn't even, nobody
ing in with her ex, Daniel, with a retreat that she and was black. So I was like, 'Uh
and dealing with not being executive producer Pren- uh, I'm going to report this
in the field for her full-time tice Penny went on to dis- (expletive) 'cause you're
job because of a mistake cuss their thoughts for the not rooting for everyone
she made. The 33-year-old, season. black.' You're stealing from
who earned her first Emmy "It is scary," she said of everyone black," she said.
nomination this year for her adding new elements to On "Insecure," and in her
leading role in the show she the show and switching it real life, she's made bold
created, explains how Jay up, "because you're like, fashion statements: On the
Ellis reacted to not being 'People are used to what show she wore a sweater
a part of season three, the they're used to.'" with the N-word on it, and
fashion statements she's "But knowing where we when she hosted this year's
made and appearing in took it overall, I'm very CFDA Awards, she sported
Drake's "Nice for What" vid- proud of it," she added. a belt embroidered with
eo. _______ "Every N---- Is A Star."
_______ BOY BYE "That was so dope," she
THE TEA ON SEASON THREE Most of the headlines sur- said of the belt. "It's just like,
Heading into the third sea- rounding the return of "Inse- 'We're here.' Why not make
son of "Insecure," Rae had cure" were about how Jay a statement?"
a goal: She didn't want her Ellis' character, Lawrence, _______
show to feel predictable or would no longer be on the VIDEO VIXEN
stale. So she dug deep to show. She's not Kiki, but she loves
write eight new episodes, But how did Ellis take the Drake: Rae said appearing
calling the process chal- news when Rae delivered in his music video for "Nice
lenging — but "in an excit- it? for What" was "a dream
ing way." Rae laughs when asked the come true." Rae makes a
"This season was harder — question, then says: "It took cameo in the clip along-
just because we closed so a while because we were side other women blaz-
many doors last season. like, 'Oh maybe he'll show ing trails in entertainment,
It felt like we were starting up, maybe he'll show up.' including Tiffany Haddish,
from scratch in a way," Rae We just didn't know truth- Tracee Ellis Ross, Misty Co-
said. "When you get into a fully what was going to peland and Yara Shahidi.q