Podcast controversy: Andrew Schulz"s racist comments on Black women
- James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu, hosts of the ShxtsnGigs podcast, faced backlash for their response to Andrew Schulz's racist jokes about Black women during a July episode.
- The hosts admitted to laughing along instead of challenging Schulz's comments, which highlighted the intersection of sexism and racism known as misogynoir.
- Their subsequent apology acknowledged the racism in Schulz's remarks, but many listeners felt they failed to adequately support Black women, raising concerns about their accountability.
In a recent episode of the ShxtsnGigs podcast, hosts James Duncan and Fuhad Dawodu found themselves in hot water after failing to confront US comedian Andrew Schulz's racist jokes about Black women. The episode, which aired in July, included a discussion on the so-called 'Black girlfriend effect,' a term that perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Instead of challenging Schulz's remarks, the hosts laughed along, which disappointed many of their Black female listeners who expected them to stand up against such misogynoir. Following significant backlash over their response, Duncan and Dawodu issued an apology acknowledging that Schulz's comments were indeed racist. They admitted that they should have reacted differently rather than trying to move on to the next topic. This incident has raised questions about their commitment to supporting Black women, especially given their platform and audience. The controversy has highlighted a broader issue within male-dominated podcasting spaces, where the normalization of derogatory comments about women, particularly women of color, often goes unchallenged. Many fans have expressed concern that this pattern reflects a lack of awareness and accountability among hosts. As the podcast community evolves, audiences increasingly expect their influencers to take a stand against racism and sexism. The hope is that Duncan and Dawodu will learn from this experience and become advocates for positive change, using their platform to uplift marginalized voices rather than perpetuating harmful stereotypes.