Kenya Barris is best known for the television series Black-ish, Mixed-ish, Grown-ish and #BlackAF. Now the writer, producer and director has a new Netflix film titled You People and it’s got people talking.
Netflix released the trailer on Dec. 5 — and Black Twitter lit up with reactions. Some people said they can’t wait to see the film, but others accused Barris of telling the same story over and over again.
The Hollywood mogul directed the comedy and co-wrote the script with Jonah Hill.
Related Story: Eddie Murphy and Nia Long Grill Jonah Hill in ‘You People’ Trailer (Video)
The trailer for You People shows Hill trying to win over his future in-laws, played by Eddie Murphy and Nia Long. Hill’s character wants to marry the couple’s daughter, portrayed by Lauren London. But Murphy isn’t convinced and asks, “So do you hang out in the hood all the time, or do you just come up here for our food and women?”
Netflix shared the trailer on Twitter and it was retweeted thousands of times. The post also prompted about 600 comments and many of them were scathing. One of the main complaints, Barris keeps telling “the same kind of stories” about biracial characters and interracial relationships.
Opposites may attract but some families don’t.
Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lauren London, and more star in Kenya Barris' You People. Premiering this January. pic.twitter.com/D80IYICBWQ
— Netflix (@netflix) December 5, 2022
Among the replies to Netflix’s tweet:
@kunlemakindee wrote, “Kenya Barris might be the most one-dimensional writer working today.”
@torijoy09 tweeted, “This is just one long ass episode of Blackish…we’re tired.”
@freddy_gsanford tweeted, “Kenya Barris won’t rest until a biracial baby is born on Mars.”
@MakkeG49 wrote: “Who keeps letting Kenya Barris write shows?”
@DpEsho tweeted: “How many of the same kind of stories will Kenya Barris tell? And why was Black AF cancelled?”
Others noted that the movie looks a lot like the 2005 Bernie Mac comedy Guess Who and the 1967 Sidney Poitier film, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Related Story: Kenya Barris to Write and Direct ‘Wizard of Oz’ Remake for Warner Bros.
Still, some fans defended Barris, saying he writes about his lived experiences, mainly his marriage to Dr. Rainbow Edwards Barris, who is biracial.
@Prizzle01 tweeted, “Kenya Barris has every right to create from a place of experience. Y’all consistently hate on some really talented people.”
@Mickysplace added, “Looks funny. I can’t wait to watch!”
@Carlawitha_cee tweeted, “I almost got ‘salty’ at first. But, I gave it some thought. Why knock a person’s experience ? This is what America looks like now. I’ll definitely be watching this series because I’m a fan of Mr. Barris’ work. That Is All.”
Eagle-eyed Twitter users, including broadcast journalist and producer Soledad O’Brien, noticed Nia Long wasn’t mentioned in the caption for Netflix’s post, even though the actress is featured in the trailer.
“AND NIA LONG!!!!” O’Brien tweeted, reminding Netflix Long’s name should’ve been included in the tweet.
Others pointed out the film’s unusual casting choices, such as having Lauren London, who is biracial, play the daughter of Eddie Murphy and Nia Long.
Barris previously faced complaints about casting, “colorism” and “stereotypes” when the trailer was released in 2020 for his Netflix series #BlackAF.
He responded to the criticism in a podcast interview saying, “Everyone’s experience and everyone’s opinion in terms of colorism are real. And I understand that. But If you just dug, just a little bit under the surface you will understand that this was based upon, it is biographical, and I was trying to duplicate a version of what my family was.”
