To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Sheryl Lee Ralph, one of the stars of hit show Abbott Elementary, has earned a wave of backlash after seemingly taking a dig at Mikey Madison’s Best Actress win for Anora.
Madison, a relative unknown before her starring role in Sean Baker’s sex worker drama Anora, beat out Demi Moore and others for the prestigious award.
Moore was the decided favourite to win, and some took issue with Madison snagging the gong instead.
Ralph was candid about her thoughts when speaking to On The Red Carpet’s Joelle Garguilo.
‘I have told people over and over and over again… The fastest way to an Oscar is either on a pole or have… I’m telling you, sex sells baby. Sex sells,’ the 68-year-old said.
The clip soon made the rounds on X, sparking heated debate.
@the_jerrymanuel wrote: ‘This is insensitive especially after Mickey’s win for playing a stripper/ pole dancer in Anora. Her acting was superb IMO, she deserved that Oscar win.’
@Alibenzkr put it even more scathingly, posting: ‘Imagine being this ignorant and misogynistic. Mikey Madison won because she was the best out of the 5 nominees and this should be celebrated as it rarely occurs in this specific category.’
Others just flat out disagreed with the take, with @alibomaye writing: ‘I don’t know, it’s usually a “transformation” or making yourself less attractive or playing a historical figure that tends to win Oscars.’
But plenty of others supported the actresses statement, with @wesleys_theory1 writing: ‘Y’all are mad because she is speaking the truth. We literally saw two back-to-back wins that support this.’
@CallMeDSharp agreed: ‘She spoke facts. Probably should’ve said sex worker and/or domestic, but still… Why are people upset?’
@LOKISPACEGEMS wrote: ‘I don’t like how y’all are being disrespectful in the quotes towards THEE Sheryl Lee Ralph for saying nothing but the damn truth. Sex sells that’s how the industry works.’
@chunghanji chimed in: ‘Sheryl Lee Ralph has been in that industry longer than most of the nominees this year have even been alive and y’all wanna try and shame her for this…she is telling her lived truth. y’all need to shut the hell up 😭’
(Picture: Burt Harris/PI via ZUMA Press Wi)
Looking at the facts, it is true that Madison has now become the 14th actor to win an Oscar for playing a sex worker, with the first being Janet Gaynor in Street Angel in 1928.
In the years since, Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Fonda, Kim Basinger, and Mira Sorvino have all won Oscars for roles in which they’ve played a sex worker.
Charlize Theron in Monster in 2003 and Emma Stone in Poor Things in 2023 also won awards for their roles in films in which their characters engaged in sex work at some point.
Ralph is currently starring in the hugely popular ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary alongside the likes of Quinta Brunson, Janelle James, and Tyler James Williams, which is enjoying rave reviews from fans and critics alike.
But the actress has been in the industry for years. In addition to winning an Emmy for Abbott, Ralph won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her performance in the 1990 comedy-drama film To Sleep with Anger.
She’s also starred in films like The Mighty Quinn in 1989, Mistress in 1992, The Distinguished Gentleman the same year, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit in 1993, and The Comeback Trail in 2020.
In 2022, Ralph admitted her career hasn’t been easy, recalling one particularly shocking rejection where she was told she ‘wasn’t Black enough’ for a role.
The incident in question occurred in the 1980’s, but Sheryl says that, even decades later, she can ‘still remember the way I felt.’
Speaking to People, Sheryl explained: ‘I was fired from a pilot because the producer told me I was “not Black enough”‘.
‘Those were his words. It was horrible. I can still remember the way I felt.’
She went on to say that, at the time, people’s way of thinking was ‘not very inclusive’ and directors were trying to tell Black women ‘how to be Black.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.