During a recent roundtable discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, Lee Daniels, other writers and producers for hit TV shows, discussed how the lack of Black writers for a majority of Hollywood’s hit shows affects their industry.
When asked if he felt more pressure to fill his shows and writers’ rooms with a diverse group of talent following the success of Empire, Daniels stated, “I don’t know what gives me more pleasure: watching my story unfold or going in and watching a room full of black people talking for me and writing words for black people,” he said. “I hate white people writing for black people; it’s so offensive. So we go out and look specifically for African-American voices. Yes, it’s all about reverse racism.”
The entire roundtable discussion can be seen on Close Up With The Hollywood Reporter, when it premieres Aug. 30, at 11 a.m. ET/PT on Sundance TV.