Lucy Lawless Calls out Hercules Costar Kevin Sorbo for Racist Kamala Harris Remark

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As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for the golden age of television, I must say that the recent discord between Lucy Lawless and Kevin Sorbo is quite disheartening. Having grown up watching them as Xena and Hercules respectively, it’s disappointing to see their friendship, forged on the battlefields of ancient Greece, now divided by political ideologies.

Lucy Lawless is criticizing her ex-costar Kevin Sorbo over a racially insensitive remark he made on social media. Sorbo, who supports Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, echoed the former President’s questioning of Kamala Harris‘ heritage at a recent conference. During the National Association of Black Journalists event, Trump inquired whether Harris, who was born in Oakland, California to an Indian mother and Jamaican father, identified as Indian or Black. On August 8th, Sorbo went a step further, posting a comment that escalated this issue.

“If Kamala really is black, have her say the N-word, let the people decide for themselves.”

Lawless, known for criticizing former President Trump, voiced his disapproval alongside thousands of other social media users over Sorbo’s post. In a pair of now-removed posts, Lawless humorously defended Sorbo by recounting an old story from the 1990s and mentioning the tragic death of Nicole Simpson Brown. Lawless expressed his thoughts on the matter through Yahoo Entertainment:

To add my perspective, I’ve seen an instance where Kevin Sorbo stood up for a black individual in the face of white opponents. @RonFilipkowski @JohnFugelsang

In February 1995, during New Zealand’s summer, my character Xena made her debut on my husband’s show, ‘Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.’ While we actors were relaxing together, I brought up a news story that had caught my attention. I mentioned, “By the way, have any of you heard about the two women who were brutally murdered in Los Angeles? I think it might be that footballer!” Peanut, who knew Nicole, quickly interjected, “Hey! You should know… she was far from easy-going!” This sparked a moment of surprise among us.

We were all taken aback. I exclaimed, “She didn’t deserve such a brutal fate.” He responded, “I’m merely expressing, She was quite peculiar.” The phrase has lingered in my memory because the colloquial expressions used were uncommon to us. Yet, we understood his intent.#DontGetMeStarted!

In the initial season of the show “Hercules,” Lucy Lawless portrayed the character Xena, a favorite among fans. This role led her to secure a spinoff titled “Xena: Warrior Princess,” which premiered in 1995 and was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful. During the fantasy series’ six-season run, Kevin Sorbo made appearances in two crossover episodes. Both Lawless and Sorbo provided voices for the animated movie “Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus,” released in 1998.

Xena and Hercules at Political Odds

As a long-time fan of their work together on television, I have always admired Lawless and Sorbo for their acting talents and the successful shows they brought to our screens. However, over the years, it has become increasingly apparent that their off-screen dynamic is vastly different from their professional relationship. Their political standings could not be more polar opposite, which, unfortunately, has led to some public spats between them.

“I’m sorry, Peanut. Those people aren’t Patriots; they are more akin to misguided followers, domestic extremists, or puppets of QAnon. They are the individuals who carry out harmful acts at the behest of manipulative figures like you. It seems you prefer to keep your hands clean while others do the dirty work. #MaskingResponsibility #PuppetMaster”

Despite the genuine conflict between Lawless and Sorbo, the actress has discussed potential impacts of the election on a beloved character’s marriage from her past role. From 2012 to 2014, Lawless played Diane Lewis, who married Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation. In a recent interview, Lawless speculated about what Diane and Ron might be doing now.

As a cinephile, I must admit, I’m perplexed about the voting process. It’s intriguing to ponder the potential impact of Ron’s candidacy, given his fiery libertarian stance. Will he launch a wild attack on the current system? I can’t help but wonder if this could be the spark that fractures the American political landscape during this election.

The 2024 Presidential race has gotten off to an unusual beginning, with the potential for dividing one beloved “Parks and Recreation” pair and causing adult males to overlook the existence of multiracial individuals.

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2024-08-12 21:01