It takes a lot to be a celebrity nowadays. Somehow more than before, celebrities are being more scrutinized and trolled by people on the Internet. For some, it may be easy to deal with as they have figured out ways to hit back or troll themselves. On the other hand, the effects of the Internet along with the hardships they face in the industry can be extremely daunting. Tiffany Haddish is speaking up on how her upbringing, and her mother, prepared her to deal with all that comes with her career.
Comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish has often spoken about her relationship with her mentally-ill mother, Leola. Whether in her autobiography The Last Black Unicorn or in various interviews, Haddish has shared that growing up under Leola’s wing was regularly turbulent. This all stemming from a terrible car accident which brought on extensive and long-lasting brain injuries which altered her temperment. But one thing that Tiffany Haddish has chosen to do within her life is use those tumultous moments as a means to alter her perspective. Haddish shared on the Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast how all that she’s been through, especially with mother Leola, helped to shift and mold her outlook.
Haddish begins to reflect on her time being raised in foster care after being separated from her mother. She credits her experiences being moved around within the foster care system and being raised by a mentally-ill mother for prepping her for this industry. Dealing with alot of rejecting and all of the “no’s” is not easy for most, she claims, because “they’ve been told yes in their life.” “But for me,” she adds, “A ‘no’ is an ‘Okay, I’ll go through this way, then!” Tiffany Haddish feels motivated by a rejection to now figure out other routes up the ladder. The Like A Boss actress then compares being moved around as a child and the feeling of “not being wanted” to the culture of Hollywood.
Tiffany Haddish then reflects on the mistreatment she received at the hands of her mother and how it prepared her. According to Haddish, it would exceed physical mistreatment, adding on the mental and verbal aspect as well. All of her “sufferings” from Leola, she says, “definitely prepared me for the Internet world and the trolls.” Tiffany Haddish then admits that her deep love for her mother, that made it even worse. “That was like, beating me up. Beating up my spirit, my soul,” she confessed. “And then people on the Internet, they trying to beat up your spirit, your soul, and your reputation.” The difference, she says, is she doesn’t love or know those people.
“So, what they say don’t even really make a difference,” she added. Haddish revealed that the comments do get to her at times which activates her to respond. But, she considers making a little time to engage with her haters “healthy.” You can check out the conversation between Tiffany Haddish and Jemele Hill below.
