As soon as Roy fell to Prime Video, it quickly became popular on the Internet. Viewers took to social media to discuss the miniseries’ references to beyoncé, Donald Gloverpost-lifeAtlanta, Chloe Bailey’sand Dominic Fishbackspeeches, Billie Eilishacting debut, and the fact that Malia Obama wrote one of the show’s seven episodes. Among all the hype around pop stars and the daughters of the former president, one conversation that gradually gained momentum concerned Paris Jacksonrole in the series. Daughter of the King of Pop Michael Jacksonplays a very important role in one of Royearlier episodes, and fans of the show couldn’t stop talking about her. But who exactly is Jackson playing? And why is her role so ambiguous?
What is “Roy” about?
Created by Donald Glover And Janine Nabers, Roy is one of those shows you don’t want to go to if you don’t know anything about it. However, we will try to give you a general idea of the plot. She is best known for her role as Deborah Johnson in the 2021 historical drama. Judas and the Black Messiah, Dominic Fishback stars in the series as Dre, an extremely socially awkward young woman obsessed with the Beyoncé-like pop star Ni’jah (Nirin S. Brown). Dre shares this fan love with her sister and roommate Marissa (Chloe Bailey) - or at least she thinks so. After a series of events that end with Marissa turning down Dre’s invitation to a Ni’jah concert to go on a road trip with her boyfriend, the two sisters fall out and Marissa comes to the conclusion that it’s time for her to move. outside.
Devastated by her sister’s sudden decision, Dre finds some semblance of solace in the surprise release of Ni’jah’s newest concept album, Festival. convinced that her boyfriend Khalid (Damson Idris) cheated on her. This is a reference to a real-life rumor circulating online about a girl who committed suicide after listening to Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade. The most gorgeous and powerful woman in the world was cheated on by her husband because she just couldn’t take it anymore.
Marissa Jackson’s suicide was never real, but on the show, it had a pretty big impact on Dre’s worldview. Angry at Khalid for his alleged betrayal and angered by the many violent comments on the internet about Marissa’s death, Dre embarks on a road trip, including murders, to meet his greatest idol.
Who is Hayley, aka Halsey, Paris Jackson’s character on The Swarm?
At one of the first stops on his journey, Dre runs into Paris Jackson’s character, a stripper named Hailey - or should I say Halsey? Titled “Honey”, episode 2 of Roy Dre moved from Houston, Texas to Fayetteville, Tennessee about a year after Marissa’s death. In order to earn some money and find the person who wrote a series of mean tweets about Marissa’s suicide, she takes a job at a local strip club. While mocking her co-stars for her clumsy dancing, Dre finds a friend in a stripper who uses the stage name Halsey. Or maybe we should say that Hailey finds a friend in Dre.
Extremely assertive, Halsey invites herself into Dre’s hotel room to get away from her abusive boyfriend, sir.Casey Mills) and things go downhill from there. Afraid of being stuck with Hailey for the rest of his life, Dre decides to get rid of Sir. When Hayley stumbles upon her digging a shallow grave for Sir’s body and suggests they become Black Thelma and Louise, Dre decides it’s time to get rid of Hayley as well. I guess that’s what you get for pretending to be someone’s best friend to get into their hotel room…
However, before Haley’s death, she and Dre have a very revealing conversation. Remember a few lines ago I mentioned that Hailey wanted Dre and her to become Black Thelma and Louise? Yes, the problem is that if you look at Hayley, you will soon come to the conclusion that she will make a very white Black Louise (or Thelma, I don’t know which one she will choose). But, as it turned out, she does not consider herself white. Sitting at a diner with Dre, Hayley claims she understands what it’s like to be an outcast because she’s also black. Dre is completely shocked by this statement, but Hailey quickly clarifies, “Half of my father.” After a few seconds, she adds, “That’s why my stage name is Halsey.”
“Halsey of Swarm is the excavation of the real Halsey”
Hailey’s stage name is a reference to the real singer-songwriter. Halseyknown for her songs “Without Me” and “Closer”. smokers. Born to a white mother and black father, Halsey was often asked questions about her ethnicity. In an interview in 2017 Playboythe singer stated that despite looking white, she feels like a “black woman”. At the same time, however, she declared: “I am passing by the whites. I took it in and never tried to control anything about black culture that wasn’t mine.”
In 2020, Halsey was criticized for not speaking out loud enough about the Black Lives Matter protests sweeping the United States, despite claiming to be at least partially black. The singer took Twitter, where she wrote: “I am a white passing. I can’t say “we”. This is my place to help. I care about my family, but no one will kill me because of the color of my skin. I’ve always been proud of who I am, but it would be an absolute disservice to say “we” when I’m not subject to the same abuse.”
Paris Jackson, on the other hand, has always declared her black identity as the daughter of black pop icon Michael Jackson. In an interview with rolling stone, the actress stated that she considers herself black, despite her pale appearance. According to Jackson, her father “looked me in the eyes, pointed at me and said, ‘You’re black. Be proud of your roots.” And I’d say, “Okay, he’s my father, why would he lie to me?” So I just believe what he told me. Because, as far as I know, he never lied to me.”
Many accepted the role of Paris Jackson in Roy However, to unearth Halsey, there is more to the joke than meets the eye. The series seems to be aiming at a broader discussion about race and who can be black in our current society, where blackness is so humiliated and at the same time so commodified. After all, both Halsey and Paris Jackson are black daughters, but they also look a lot like whites. Should we laugh at the fact that they call themselves black? Do they have a right to claim that identity, given that, as Halsey puts it, no one is going to kill them because of the color of their skin? These are not easy questions and Roy doesn’t try to answer them, although he points out the ridiculousness of someone who looks like Paris Jackson claiming to be Black. And considering her responses to fan reactions on twitterin Paris, it’s all right.
Source: Collider
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