Russel Simmons: Hollywood is Incredibly Segregated

Russell Simmons says there's a bias in Hollywood that stops white actors from working with black developers in an organic way.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Def Jam co-founder and fashion mogul Russell Simmons says he's learned a lesson since he started making a go at reinventing himself yet again as a TV and film producer: “The segregation in Hollywood is incredible.”

In a new interview with VarietySimmons talks about the "bias" he has encountered when it comes to getting white stars to work with black producers, and how the major talent agencies all seem to have "the one black agent."

“I speak English. Not only can I make Eddie Murphy cool again, I can make Jim Carrey cool again," Simmons said. 

Simmons also called on black people in the industry to "take the initiative and push your way in the door too. ... Everybody has to take responsibility for the new incarnation of Hollywood."

Among the 11 projects Simmons said he's working on:  a comedy similar to Legally Blonde that features a thirsty white man following a black woman to school at the historically black college Howard University (classic), a comedy starring J.B. Smoove as a guy who goes overseas, solves a crime and becomes Swedish royalty (yes, please!), and an HBO pilot about black man with a mysterious past who enters New York high society (intriguing). 

And just for the record Russell, we'd really appreciate it more if you could take care of making Eddie Murphy cool again first. 

[Via Variety]

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