Colorism in Hollywood: 'I'm the star, I'm this blue-black' - Tyrese Gibson's revelations

Tyrese Gibson, the celebrated 'F9' star, got candid about the elephant in Hollywood's room: colorism. The actor unveiled how this insidious bias led to him losing multiple roles to his friend, Terrence Howard.

A Bias Favoring the 'Lighter-Skinned Black Man'

The actor confessed to Leah A. Henry, host of radio show Leah's Lemonade, about Hollywood's veiled preference for a 'lighter-skinned black man with the green eyes', resulting in Howard bagging roles that Gibson was on the verge of landing. "'Terrence Howard has no idea how many roles that I was about to book and they went with him,'" the 42-year-old actor recalled, reflecting on his experiences.

Gibson emphasized his blue-black color, a trait that had once been a source of mockery, and remarked on the transformation in perceptions, highlighting the acclaimed Lupita Nyong'o and Viola Davis. He criticized the colorism entrenched by white society, leading to a disparity in treatment between mixed-race and 'black blacks'.

Childhood Struggles and a Hollywood Reality

Delving into his past, Gibson exposed the colorism that plagued his childhood, where being light-skinned was equated with attractiveness. The same bias, he confirmed, persists in Hollywood.

Despite these trials, there is no animosity between Gibson and Howard. In fact, the 'Transformers' star even vouched for Howard for a role in his upcoming thriller, 'The System', which Gibson both stars in and produces. "'I suggested Terrence Howard,' the 'Transformers' actor explained. 'And he thanked me for like, a week straight.'”

Gibson's confession unveils the unspoken discrimination in Hollywood, shedding light on a bitter reality. His revelations might prompt more conversation about colorism in the film industry, pushing towards greater equity and representation.

Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.