Not a meltdown by the star stand-up comedienne, just stating a fact.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Television star and standup comedian Mindy Kaling recently had a bit of an outburst, when quizzed on the issue of diversity.
Kaling was part of a Fox TV panel during a press conference South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin, Texalast, last week, when one attendee asked her, “Was it a conscious decision for Mindy to be the only female doctor and the only doctor of color on the show?” The show in question was, of course, “The Mindy Project,” for which Kaling is a creator, writer, and star.
Kaling responded by saying “I look at shows on TV, and this is going to just seem defensive, but I’m just gonna say it: I’m a f***ing Indian woman who has her own f***ing network television show, OK?” The remark was applauded by the audience, who defended Kaling against an apparent accusation that her show isn’t already diverse enough.
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“The Mindy Project” is the first network television show in US history to be led by an Indian American actor. Kaling, as a woman of color, is front and center throughout the series, which is now in its second season, making it quite diverse in and of itself.
“I have four series regulars that are women on my show, and no one asks any of the shows I adore — and I won’t name them because they’re my friends — why no leads on their shows are women or of color, and I’m the one that gets lobbied about these things,” Kaling said. “I’m someone who’s writing a show and I want to use funny people. And it feels like it diminishes the incredibly funny women who do come on my show. [So] it’s a little frustrating.”
As Kaling continues to break down barriers for women of all races, not just Indians, it perhaps becomes incumbent upon her to keep doing more for ethnic minorities than she already has. Kaling said at the discussion that “it’s not like I’m running a country, I’m not a political figure. I’m someone who’s writing a show and I want to use funny people,” essentially saying that it can’t be entirely on her shoulders to completely diversify the American television landscape.
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The panel discussion was called “Running the Show: TV’s New Queen of Comedy,” and was otherwise a generally amicable affair by all accounts. Even when Kaling had her outburst, the tone of the crowd was positive, and she never really descended into outright anger.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com
1 Comment
Another ug ly cow who wants to be wh ite and has no ma nners and an inflated se nse of self-entitlement. Typical Indian. Brilliant