Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Jamie Foxx's Introduction To Musicals Was Being Told He Couldn't Be In One Because He Was Black

Jamie Foxx's Introduction To Musicals Was Being Told He Couldn't Be In One Because He Was Black
Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Actor Jamie Foxx opened up to Sarah Silverman in a new episode of Off Script, in which Foxx describes how his first experience with musicals was rooted in racism.


Foxx, who studied classical music and composition at United States International University, recalled to Silverman that during a production of a musical while he was in college, he wasn't permitted to sing on stage. Instead, he was sequestered to the curtained wings, because the cast was all-white. He did not, however, mention the name of the production.

They came to me because they needed a tenor," Foxx said. "They wouldn't let me go on the stage but they would let me behind the curtain because there weren't any African Americans in the production. So I was would sing in the back, and I would just sing the parts they needed me [for]."

"And that's how I learned about musicals," he added.

"That's insane!" exclaimed Silverman, who started her career performing in musicals. "You don't know musicals and your experience with them was racist."

Foxx's musical prowess was featured in the movie, Ray, in which he portrayed blind legendary musician Ray Charles, and for which he won an Oscar. In his youth, Foxx wasn't into musicals all that much. He began playing piano at the age of five, and worked as a part-time pianist and choir director at Terrell's New Hope Baptist Church in Texas.

Off Script is produced by Grey Goose and hosted by Foxx. In it, he interviews A-list Hollywood celebrities about how their careers got started and how they evolved to where they are today. New episodes air on Wednesdays at www.greygooseoffscript.com.


More from Trending

Josh Schriver
Representative Josh Schriver/Substack

GOP State Lawmaker's Call To Make 'Gay Marriage Illegal Again' Goes Viral For All The Wrong Reasons

After Michigan state Representative Josh Schriver urged Congress to make "gay marriage illegal again," he was brutally called out online.

Schriver's comment came just weeks after the GOP's performance in Michigan's November election, where they regained control of the statehouse.

Keep ReadingShow less
dictionary entry for "censorship"
Mick Haupt on Unsplash

People Break Down The Dumbest Things They Ever Saw Censored

Censorship is all around us. Censorship is ⬛⬛⬛⬛ and when ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️ can be ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️, except in cases where ⬛️⬛️⬛️ is ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️.

Frustrating, right?

Keep ReadingShow less
A wide shot of a group of younger people having a work meeting in a conference room.
Photo by Redd F on Unsplash

People Reveal Secrets About Their Job No One Is Supposed To Know

Every workplace has its issues and secrets.

And the sooner they're exposed, the better.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eddie Murphy; Eric Murphy & Jasmin Lawrence; Martin Lawrence
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images; @jasmin_lawrence/Instagram; Noam Galai/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Eddie Murphy's Son Just Got Engaged To Martin Lawrence's Daughter—And Fans Are Overjoyed

Martin Lawrence’s daughter, Jasmin Lawrence, and Eddie Murphy’s son, Eric Murphy, are officially engaged!

The couple, together for over three years, announced the happy news on Instagram with a romantic video featuring Eric’s candlelit proposal, set to Eric Benét’s Spend My Life with You.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from TikTok videos by @jngarz, @cass.on.tour, and @flowerpower12790
@jngarz/TikTok; @cass.on.tour/TikTok; @flowerpower12790/TikTok

Kacey Musgraves Puts Florida Fan On Blast For Grabbing Her During Tampa Concert

Country singer Kacey Musgraves is currently touring the southern U.S., and while she was in Florida, one fan nearly ruined the tour for everyone when they inappropriately grabbed the artist.

While in Tampa, Florida, Musgraves was performing down on the floor with the audience, walking toward the camera for dramatic effect when an audience member grabbed her arm and yanked her toward the crowd.

Keep ReadingShow less