Apr 12, 2026 12:11pm PT

Issa Rae Says You ‘Need to Be Smarter’ About Pitching Shows With a Diverse Cast Now That DEI ‘Has Become a Bad Word’: ‘Hollywood Is in an Identity Crisis’

Jack Dunn

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Jack Dunn

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Issa Rae recently told The Wrap that “Hollywood is in an identity crisis right now” and is experiencing a downturn in representation both behind and in front of the camera.

“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.”

Issa Rae Says You 'Need to Be Smarter' About Pitching Shows With a Diverse Cast Now That DEI 'Has Become a Bad Word': 'Hollywood Is in an Identity Crisis'