Yesterday, actress Stacey Dash put herself in hot water again when she declared on Fox News’ Fox & Friends that Black History Month–as well as the BET Network and any awards shows geared toward African-Americans–should be completely eliminated.
Dash was speaking with Fox’s Steve Doocy about the growing 2016 Oscars controversy, in which every single acting nominee was white for the second year in a row. Many have expressed outrage over this lack of diversity, prompting the hashtag #OscarSoWhite to trend on Twitter, and a few actors and actresses, including Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith, to announce their decisions to boycott the ceremony.
In reference to this controversy, Dash first slammed what she referred to as “ludicrous” protests. She then continued: “We have to make up our minds. Either we want to have segregation or integration, and if we don’t want segregation, then we have to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the Image Awards, where you’re only awarded if you’re black. If it were the other way around, we’d be up in arms. It’s a double standard.” And she didn’t stop there, adding, “There shouldn’t be a Black History Month. We’re Americans, period.”
Her comments immediately went viral on social media, especially on Twitter, with countless commenters promptly weighing in on this contentious issue:
"Clueless" star Stacey Dash.
EDIT: Clueless "star" Stacey Dash.
— brandon / jinx (@Jersey_Jinx) January 20, 2016
y does @REALStaceyDash hate herself so much
— ????FRïDA???? (@AngelHaze) January 20, 2016
#StaceyDash…..We the black delegation would like to trade Stacey Dash for Adele
— Black (@BlackGrate) January 20, 2016
BET chimed in on Twitter with a couple of tweets revealing Dash’s time acting on a sitcom that aired on the network.
???? Soooooo @REALStaceyDash can we get our check back… or nah?#Remember#YouWereOnTheGame #AndWeDontMeanTheRapper pic.twitter.com/2vWq03J0c9
— BET (@BET) January 20, 2016
Many wonder if Dash just relishes the limelight for her outrageous remarks, but one thing is clear: for the right paycheck, she can sure stir up some controversy.