Advertisement

Issa Rae's belt featuring the N-word sparks debate


When it comes to politics and pop culture, Issa Rae isn’t pulling any punches.

The actor and producer of the HBO series “Insecure” is being praised for her candor after hosting the CFDA Fashion Awards at the Brooklyn Museum on Monday night.

ALSO SEE: Winnie Harlow shows some serious leg at the CFDA Awards

<em>Issa Rae (Getty Images)</em>
Issa Rae (Getty Images)
Issa Rae hosted the CFDA Awards in Brooklyn, New York<em> (Getty Images)</em>
Issa Rae hosted the CFDA Awards in Brooklyn, New York (Getty Images)

In front of the star-studded crowd, Rae tackled issues of race and representation by kicking the night off with a nod to Kanye West’s controversial statement about slavery being ” a choice.”

“I’m about as fashionable as Kanye is black — only when it’s convenient,” Rae told the crowd. “That joke was my choice, just like slavery.”

She then turned her attention to her groundbreaking role as the evening’s host.

“I’m the first person of colour to ever host this so I really can’t f— up,” Rae said during her opening monologue. “Which is crazy, especially considering the impact our culture has had on fashion.”

Rae wore a belt that said, “Every N–ga Is A Star,” which is the title of a Boris Gardiner song from 1973 <em>(Getty Images)</em>
Rae wore a belt that said, “Every N–ga Is A Star,” which is the title of a Boris Gardiner song from 1973 (Getty Images)

ALSO SEE: All the best red carpet looks at the CFDA Awards

Earlier in the evening, Rae arrived on the carpet wearing a blue sequined jumpsuit by Pyer Moss’s Kerby Jean-Raymond.

The look featured more than 180,000 Swarovski crystals and a belt that said, “Every N–ga Is A Star,” which is the title of a song by Boris Gardiner. Raymond used the song in the label’s fall/winter 2018 runway show.

Fans of the 33-year-old actor took to social media to praise her look.

Raymond says he collaborated with Rae on the jumpsuit remotely.

“[It was] interesting and new for me because a lot of it was done via phone and pictures because of our work schedules,” he revealed to People magazine. “The sketching process was very fun.”

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Check out our brand new podcast, Make It Reign — our hot takes on all things royals in a non-stuffy way — on iTunes and Google Play.