W. Kamau Bell

That's like, it's like bringing up this guy used to work at McDonald's. Yeah. Uh, but yeah, so, so, uh, yeah, so I, I was just prepared for like, I don't know, this could be so bad. that the whole thing could be over because nobody's going to want to work with me. Because first of all, I didn't know if people would like it. So if everybody hates it, then my career is over.

And I just am one of those people who went down in a blaze of glory. So I was already like, well, I'm here in Oakland. I can get a job. I could probably teach theater. I could go back to school, get my degree, and then become a professor. I know enough. I was like, I know enough that I can keep my family fed and clothed. But I was prepared for that 100%.

And I just am one of those people who went down in a blaze of glory. So I was already like, well, I'm here in Oakland. I can get a job. I could probably teach theater. I could go back to school, get my degree, and then become a professor. I know enough. I was like, I know enough that I can keep my family fed and clothed. But I was prepared for that 100%.

But the fact is, is like when it came out very quickly, it became the best reviewed thing I'd ever released, like the best, most critical acclaim. And so I felt like, okay, at least I have that.

But the fact is, is like when it came out very quickly, it became the best reviewed thing I'd ever released, like the best, most critical acclaim. And so I felt like, okay, at least I have that.

Exactly. I won a Black Reel Award. And then what happened, I remember I was at Tribeca Film Festival and this started, this was the first time it happened, but it started happening more and more. This was like months after it had come out. And I was even like worried about going out in public for a little while. Like, I just was like, I'll tell you, Good story about that.

Exactly. I won a Black Reel Award. And then what happened, I remember I was at Tribeca Film Festival and this started, this was the first time it happened, but it started happening more and more. This was like months after it had come out. And I was even like worried about going out in public for a little while. Like, I just was like, I'll tell you, Good story about that.

So this black woman came up to me at the Tribeca Film Festival and was like, Kamau Bell, yeah. She sort of waved me over. She's like, you had my group chat on fire. She was sort of saying it like it was great, but people were really in their feelings about it. She's like, you blew up everybody's group chat. And I didn't know that. And I heard from other black people about that.

So this black woman came up to me at the Tribeca Film Festival and was like, Kamau Bell, yeah. She sort of waved me over. She's like, you had my group chat on fire. She was sort of saying it like it was great, but people were really in their feelings about it. She's like, you blew up everybody's group chat. And I didn't know that. And I heard from other black people about that.

There was just a lot of like... Yeah, it's, it's, yeah. That ultimately was better. And it came out before R. Kelly, right? The R. Kelly doc? It was after R. Kelly. Because it was sort of, like, the two docs that inspired it were Surviving R. Kelly and Made in America O.J. Simpson.

There was just a lot of like... Yeah, it's, it's, yeah. That ultimately was better. And it came out before R. Kelly, right? The R. Kelly doc? It was after R. Kelly. Because it was sort of, like, the two docs that inspired it were Surviving R. Kelly and Made in America O.J. Simpson.

Yeah, I mean, she had it worse. There was like death threats and bomb threats.

Yeah, I mean, she had it worse. There was like death threats and bomb threats.

No, I think she had it. I definitely think she had it.

No, I think she had it. I definitely think she had it.

Yeah, she had it worse. But I think Dream also is like, doesn't give, like, probably, maybe doesn't feel it the same way I felt it, because DreamHammond doesn't give a shit. DreamHammond can do what she does. She's the greatest. And she's been a real resource during this time when I was sort of having a rough time.

Yeah, she had it worse. But I think Dream also is like, doesn't give, like, probably, maybe doesn't feel it the same way I felt it, because DreamHammond doesn't give a shit. DreamHammond can do what she does. She's the greatest. And she's been a real resource during this time when I was sort of having a rough time.

And so, yeah, so I think that like my male privilege to some extent protected me because I'm not getting as many, I'm gonna rape you as if I was a woman filmmaker. You got some.

And so, yeah, so I think that like my male privilege to some extent protected me because I'm not getting as many, I'm gonna rape you as if I was a woman filmmaker. You got some.

Yeah, but I'm not getting, and so like, and the thing that came out of it that I felt like mission accomplished was that Lily Bernard, who I talked about earlier, said after the doc came out and was out for a while, she got less online hate than before the doc came out. Because she's like a very prominent Cosby survivor. And she said the online hate has gone down significantly.