The Southern Fried Rice Controversy. Keke, What Is This?

By Hayley Armstrong

Woke up today and twitter was all…a-twitter over the trailer for an upcoming series developed by Keke Palmer and written and created by Nakia Stephens called, “Southern Fried Rice.”

I checked it out and y’all…. I’m confused.

If the trailer is at all indicative of what the series will be, we have a story about a Korean girl raised by a Black American family, brought up around Black American culture, who seeks to “find herself” at a fictional HBCU.

Maybe this is one of those “don’t judge before you watch” moments, but I don’t think I have to see more to understand that the premise is tone deaf.

Why…. are we centering an Asian experience in a show that clearly wants to embrace Black culture?

Because yes, the vast majority of the other characters are Black, but explain to me why the lead character, the one who has the most screen time (in the trailer) and who the story revolves around is Korean?

Not even like, half Korean, half Black, (which would have at least been made the character more relevant to the setting) but an unambiguously Asian girl.

(but she’s named Koko Jackson, because remember guys, she might be Asian, but she grew up around Black folks, so we gotta give her a fitting name)

Jokes aside, don’t get me wrong, there is more than enough room in Black shows for there to be non-Black characters of color.

But it is worth pointing out that in a show focused on HBCU culture, the character that Black female creators chose to spotlight, is…. not Black.

Keke… Nakia….

I am truly hoping that this series doesn’t look like what the trailer is giving.

Did no one in the writer’s room stop and think, “hey, in an era where Black Women are being fired en masse, and some Asian students have fought to keep affirmative action out of colleges in an effort to take spots they felt they deserved more than Black students who got in…

…is it a great time to be focusing on the importance of the HBCU experience from an Asian person’s point of view?”

Does that feel dire or necessary right now?

And I’ll say this: it’s certainly an original concept, but it feels original just for the sake of originality.

No one’s ever done this story before, so let’s do it!

…Like, sometimes there’s a reason a concept has never been done before.

Who was asking for a show about the HBCU adventures and cultural identity crisis of a Korean girl named Koko who was adopted and raised by Black people?

It’s like an idea that someone would pull out of a hat and turn into a show, on a dare.

I’m just confused by how this could’ve happened and not been questioned.

Is this an exercise in ragebait marketing?

A shameless cash grab?

A chance to profit off of what’s hot at the moment?

Listen, we all know that Netflix recently made bank off of their hit animated film, Kpop Demon Hunters, so is this a way of attempting to sponge off of that audience by making a Black show, with a Korean lead?

Blink twice if that’s what’s happening, because that would at least help this concept make sense.

Like, if you’re intentionally marketing to Korean audiences, let us know, so we at least know where you’re coming from.

Because as a business decision, this would not be the first instance of Black people selling Black culture in Asian packaging.

(Did we or did we not see Timbaland’s Asian AI hip hop music avatar, “Tata Taktumi?”)

We know there’s money to be made in Asian Women cosplaying Blackness. (See Awakwafin- I mean, Nora Lum)

What is going on here?

I would hope that Black Women filmmakers, showrunners, and creatives would know better than to make and promote work like this. (in 2025)

And it’s perfectly fine and should be celebrated that lots of Black People worked on this, acted in it, made it, are being paid to contribute to it… but it isn’t enough.

Because while all that goodness is happening behind the scenes, we’re still having Black Women writing shows that revolve around the experiences of women who don’t look like them.

That is a problem.

At the very least, in a show that is so inspired by Black culture… Black actors should get top billing. That shouldn’t even be up for debate.

There is no shortage of Korean artists making work about their own culture, and they should be doing that. Korean actors don’t need Black People making work for them, we have too much work about ourselves, unmade.

Imagine making a show where the synopsis is a Korean girl’s experience at a historically Black college/university when Black actresses are still finding it hard to reach mainstream success in any story setting.

This was a prime setting for a Black female lead and you chose a non-Black girl? Why?

Why couldn’t she be the best friend? A side character? Asian people can totally attend HBCUs, that’s cool.

But the series being ABOUT her, while simultaneously benefiting from the popularity of Black culture, aesthetics, and vernacular? That’s an issue.

And the fact that Black people are making it is a bigger issue.

Because what that tells us, is that prominent Black people with media companies and bottom lines to consider are giving up on casting Black actors because they don’t believe they can sell.

They’re reinforcing the mindset that Black people behind the scenes are totally acceptable, but on camera?

Not worth fighting for.

Capitalist motive aside, let’s continue to engage with the artistic failure.

Black actors are still being ignored, and we’re out here trying to save, promote, and prioritize non-Black women of color?

Black creators giving them top of the cast list access in Black art… I mean, this is just an unforced error.

You didn’t have to do this. You can still undo it, in fact.

Hear the criticism and even RE-do it. There are great ideas here, there’s just a glaring mistake at the core.

I need for Black Women with access and power to stop trying to save everyone else.

We’re inviting too many people to the cookout.

The concept of a metaphorical cookout where non-Black people we deem “cool” enough get invited is the mistake that keeps on taking.

The cookout needs to be gatekept, because you know what story would never be told?

One where a Black girl finds acceptance, unconditional love, and gets coddled in a non-Black space.

More than anything, that’s what’s annoying me about this.

Black Women are full of love and light enough that even in our own stories, we shine a light on people who would never do the same for us.

You can say it’s not that deep, but it is.

I’m desperate for the show that unapologetically focuses on Black women ONLY.

A show that is original not because of who it allows to be in the proximity of Black women….

But a show that is original because it displays the full spectrum of ways that Black Women can exist and be celebrated without having to hide behind a type of woman that the entertainment industry might find more marketable or palatable.

Black Women are enough. More than enough. All on their own merit.

I hope moving forward, that more Black Women making these shows learn to be content with Blackness that doesn’t need an outside cosign to be successful.

Or, if you’re going to betray your culture to turn a profit, at least give your audience a heads up.

-Hayley Armstrong