- 20 hours ago
Jada Pinkett Smith plans to discuss family's 'healing' after Will Smith's Oscars incident
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00:24Well, um, this was your special request.
00:28Every single person I know, including me, is just obsessed with you.
00:34I just love everything that you stand for.
00:37What got you ready to come out publicly?
00:41My dad had gotten on crack cocaine.
00:44That changed our relationship.
00:46I was dealing with real rejection, abandonment issues.
00:50What does it mean to go against your whole family?
00:52It can be a lonely road.
00:55As she was growing up and finding herself, was that difficult for you?
01:00You actually made a book of essays.
01:03It was inspired by the album that I did, Dirty Computer.
01:07I can't wait to read it with you.
01:08We're about to make a dream come true.
01:10Hey!
01:11Hi!
01:12Oh my God, why am I crying right now?
01:15Yeah, oh my God!
01:19You're back at the table.
01:21This is gonna be an exciting one.
01:23It is.
01:24Well, well, well, well, this was your special request.
01:28Yes!
01:28It was, it was.
01:30And a good one.
01:31Our special guest is an icon living, and was on my wish list of people I wanted to bring to
01:36the table.
01:37She's a Grammy-nominated, cover girl, rebel, author, CEO, actor, hero, and genius.
01:44She describes herself as a free-ass mofo, and I love that.
01:49I do, too.
01:51Please welcome Janelle Monae.
01:54Here are you.
01:55Hi!
01:56Hi!
01:56Yes, ma'am!
01:58Yes, ma'am!
01:58Yes, ma'am!
01:59Come on!
02:00Oh my goodness!
02:02I'm so happy and excited about being here.
02:05Hi, sweetie.
02:06How are you?
02:07Hello.
02:08How are you?
02:09Oh, it's so good to see you.
02:11I see you got a little flashing color back there.
02:13You know, you know, just a little, I feel a little red for the red tabletop.
02:18That's right!
02:18I am such a fan.
02:19Y'all have no idea.
02:20I'm so thankful and just super honored to be here.
02:23As soon as you guys started the show, I was in.
02:26I was like, this is exactly what we need.
02:29Well, we are all fan of yours as well.
02:31Yeah.
02:32Every single person I know, including me, is just obsessed with you.
02:35Right.
02:36Thank you, guys.
02:37I kind of just want to jump in.
02:39Yeah.
02:39So you're from Kansas.
02:41Yes.
02:41Kansas City, Kansas.
02:43Love it.
02:44I grew up in a really big family.
02:45Yeah.
02:45My mom was like one of 12 kids.
02:48And she's the baby.
02:49My grandmother had 14 brothers and sisters.
02:52Wow.
02:52And she was a sharecropper in Aberdeen, Mississippi.
02:55And they would share one pair of shoes.
02:57Oh.
02:58Yeah.
02:59Wow.
03:00And so I have 49 first cousins.
03:02Wow.
03:03Yes.
03:04That's huge.
03:05I know.
03:05I know.
03:06I grew up Baptist, super religious and super conservative.
03:09So I didn't love that.
03:11I didn't feel like I could really dream big.
03:14I had to kind of create my own world.
03:16I want to talk about the journey of your sexuality and you realizing this is who I want to be.
03:21This is who I am.
03:22In 2018, after years of speculation and questions about her sexuality, Janelle made a bold move and came out on
03:30the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
03:33She revealed she is pansexual, someone attracted to all sexes and genders.
03:39I'm non-binary.
03:41Yeah.
03:41So I just don't see myself as a woman or solely or, you know, I feel all of my energy.
03:49I feel like God is so much bigger than the he or the she.
03:54Yes.
03:55You're right.
03:55And if I am from God, I am everything.
03:59Yeah.
03:59I am everything.
04:01But I will always, always stand with women.
04:04Yeah.
04:05I will always stand with black women.
04:07But I just see everything that I am.
04:09Yeah.
04:10Oh, that's beautiful.
04:11Beyond the binary.
04:12When I see people, I see your energy first.
04:15I don't see like how you identify.
04:17Totally.
04:18And I feel like that opens you up to fall in love.
04:21With whomever.
04:23With any beautiful spirit, you know?
04:26That's so interesting.
04:27The times, they are changing.
04:29Yes.
04:30What got you ready to come out publicly?
04:33Well, you know, somebody said, if you don't work out the things that you need to work out first.
04:40Yeah, for yourself.
04:41Before you share with the world.
04:42Right.
04:42Then you'll be working it out with the world.
04:44With the world.
04:45You don't want to do that.
04:46Yeah.
04:46That's what I didn't want to do.
04:48Right.
04:48So, you know, I thought I needed to have like all my answers correct.
04:52I don't want to say the wrong thing.
04:54And also, I hadn't had the necessary conversations with my family.
04:58Yeah.
04:58Right.
04:58I wasn't ready to have my family question my personal life or get calls from people that
05:05still look at me as little pumpkin.
05:06Right.
05:06That's what they call me back home.
05:07They call you little pumpkin?
05:09That's so cute.
05:10Nobody calls me Janelle.
05:12I love that.
05:13I love that.
05:13When I go home, I'm clunking.
05:15So, it took me some time to be like, okay, mom.
05:18She had a lot of questions at first.
05:19Yeah.
05:20I'm sure she did.
05:21Okay.
05:22Well, what does this mean?
05:23Exactly.
05:23You know, and my grandmother, rest her, so I love her, but she was super religious.
05:27Yeah.
05:27You know, my whole family is church.
05:30Yeah.
05:31Church, church.
05:31And I'm just like, well, what does it mean to go against your whole family on this thing?
05:36Yeah.
05:36But I was ready.
05:37Yeah.
05:37I was like, you know what?
05:38If they don't love me, don't call me asking me for no money.
05:41What?
05:42You will not get my LGBTQIA plus money.
05:46Don't call me.
05:47How about that?
05:48Yeah.
05:48And I think that still, some of them still are like, mm, but let me be quiet because I
05:51might need some.
05:52Seriously, you got to love our people.
05:54Exactly.
05:54You got to love our people.
05:55Absolutely.
05:56But yeah, I needed to have those conversations.
05:58I didn't want to work that out in the world.
06:00Yeah.
06:00I needed to talk to my dad, who was just great.
06:03My sister knew already because I've been in monogamous relationships.
06:07I've been in polyamorous relationships.
06:09Right.
06:09Wow.
06:09But I knew that I couldn't be little pumpkin.
06:13Yeah.
06:13I couldn't be little Janelle.
06:14I had to be where I was.
06:16Exactly.
06:17I know who I am.
06:18I've been playing a version of some parts of me, but now I'm owning all of me.
06:23Yeah.
06:24That's beautiful.
06:24I had to own all of me to really be able to talk about it publicly.
06:27Yeah.
06:28That makes total sense.
06:29That makes all the sense in the world.
06:30You have to be comfortable with who you are first before you can share it with anyone
06:33else.
06:34Yeah.
06:34Here's the one point that I think most people miss.
06:37We are so worried about other people accepting us.
06:40Mm.
06:40The first question one has to ask, how come I don't accept myself?
06:45Accept myself.
06:46Ooh.
06:47Okay.
06:48And that's where the work starts.
06:50Yeah.
06:50Yeah.
06:51Right.
06:51Exactly.
06:52Really having to look at yourself and go, why do I have a problem with me?
06:57With me.
06:57Yeah.
06:58Why am I scared to step out and say, if I'm a woman who likes other women, why is that
07:03so difficult for me to just come out and say that?
07:06And it's like, well, my mom might think this and my dad might think that and my cousins
07:10might think this.
07:11And it's like, okay, but what do you think about it first?
07:14What do you think?
07:15And then you got to go into, oh, well, I was taught that that wasn't the right thing
07:19to do.
07:19Yeah.
07:20I was taught that.
07:21And it's like, now we have to like-
07:23Backtrack.
07:23We got to backtrack and we have to re-
07:26Unravel all of that.
07:27We have to unravel all that.
07:28And then we have to give ourselves new information, create a new foundation for ourselves to sit
07:35on, you know, that God loves all people.
07:38Yeah.
07:39Absolutely.
07:39God don't make mistakes.
07:41Yeah.
07:41Yeah.
07:42And so the more we get comfortable with ourselves-
07:45And the more that we can walk in our own skin, we don't really expect or need-
07:51Oof.
07:52Others.
07:53So it's like, if you coming around, you got to be bringing-
07:55Right.
07:55You got to be-
07:56Right.
07:56Because I don't need your validation in that way.
07:58Exactly.
07:59Yeah.
07:59Were you always this unapologetic about yourself?
08:03No.
08:03Yeah.
08:04Absolutely not.
08:04I've been doing a lot of healing.
08:06I'm sure most of us have.
08:07Some have been in the pandemic.
08:09Yeah.
08:09When you have to stay in, you go in, right?
08:11Yeah.
08:12True.
08:12I was thinking back to when I first started and I was like, man, as free as I was on
08:18stage, when I came off stage, I was still that scared little girl.
08:23Like, I'm not good enough.
08:24Yeah.
08:24That was always in the back of my mind.
08:27Will they love me?
08:28I just remember pulling my hair because I wanted my hair to be longer.
08:32Mm-hmm.
08:33Because all of the older girls used to love playing in the younger little girl's hair.
08:38Yeah.
08:38And I had friends who had really long, like, silky hair and I was just like, I'm never
08:42feeling good enough.
08:43Yeah.
08:43You know, my parents were not together and I always thought it was me the reason why
08:48that, like, why am I not being taken care of by my dad?
08:53He had gotten on crack cocaine.
08:55Mm-hmm.
08:56And that changed his life.
08:58That changed our relationship.
09:00Now he's completely sober.
09:02Mm-hmm.
09:02He's doing incredible.
09:03That's beautiful.
09:04Like my best friend.
09:05But this was when he was sick at this time, right?
09:08I was dealing with real rejection, abandonment issues.
09:11Yeah.
09:11What if people leave me was a direct correlation to my dad, you know?
09:16And always feeling like if I wasn't perfect, will they leave me?
09:20Or if I, I don't want to feel the pain of anybody leaving me.
09:25100%.
09:25Does that make sense?
09:25That's such a deeply primal wound.
09:27It makes a lot of sense.
09:28Yeah.
09:29Do you feel like you can relate to those feelings of abandonment and rejection with your father
09:34as well?
09:35Oh, my God.
09:36Yeah.
09:36You know, my mother's a recovering addict and my dad was an addict.
09:40And part of me coming into this industry, I ran into the same thing of just like, oh,
09:46my God, people having all these demands of me.
09:50Mm-hmm.
09:50And I got afraid of success.
09:53Oof.
09:53Because I said, I don't want to feel the hurt.
09:57Oh, of when it all goes away.
09:58Of when it all goes away.
09:59Yeah.
10:00Right?
10:01And so I actually started playing myself really small.
10:04Oof.
10:04And started hiding behind being a mother and all of that kind of stuff.
10:08Mm-hmm.
10:08Because I was like, that's not for me.
10:10Yeah.
10:10You know, but I had to confront all that.
10:14Yeah.
10:14Deal with it.
10:15Yeah.
10:15Heal it.
10:16Yeah.
10:17You know, slowly emerge in my more authentic self instead of trying to be something for
10:25everybody else.
10:26Yes.
10:26Yes, yes, yes.
10:27And it's been a hell of a journey, but it is a treacherous thing to have to do publicly.
10:33Yeah.
10:33It can be a lonely road.
10:35The moments that I felt most disappointed was when I was afraid.
10:38Yeah.
10:39Because I was afraid of failing.
10:40One hundred percent.
10:41This is very important in regards to just bringing it all back to abandonment.
10:46Because you've dealt with this too in your fears of like how people think about you and
10:52think about things and stuff.
10:54And how do you get by that fear?
10:55By that fear.
10:55It's like a universal problem because we all want to be part of a tribe.
10:59Yeah.
11:00We're wired, humans are wired to want to be accepted by the community.
11:04Right.
11:04You will have your community even as your authentic self.
11:07Exactly.
11:07And that's the thing that we miss.
11:09That we need to remember.
11:09And it's knowing that those who can't ride with you as your authentic self are part of
11:18you.
11:19They're not part of it.
11:19And of your community.
11:20They should be.
11:21So one, two, the faster you get to you.
11:25One hundred.
11:25The faster you can find your tribe.
11:28One hundred percent.
11:29That.
11:30One hundred percent.
11:30This is amazing.
11:31And we're trying to hold on to tribes that don't belong to us.
11:36They don't.
11:37It's like a play.
11:39Right.
11:39They're going to be reoccurring characters.
11:41You know, they're going to be folks that won't make it back.
11:45That's right.
11:46For the second act.
11:46That's right.
11:47And we have to just be fine with letting go.
11:49You go to different levels in your life.
11:51Everybody can't come.
11:52The people that are supposed to be with me.
11:54They will find me.
11:55They are going to find me.
11:56They will find me.
11:57Right.
11:57So we're about to make a dream come true.
12:00Okay.
12:00Okay.
12:01This is one of your biggest fans.
12:04They're in a hotel room down the street preparing to come to the table.
12:07Do we like it?
12:08Oh.
12:09We like it.
12:10They have no idea that you're here.
12:12So the RTT team is going to let us know when they arrive.
12:15I'm really excited.
12:19Wow.
12:20But first, Janelle's fans call themselves fan droids and have so many burning questions
12:25for you.
12:26Let's roll the first one.
12:28Oh, gosh.
12:28Be nice, guys.
12:31Yo, what up, Red Table?
12:32My name is Andre from the South Side of Chicago.
12:35Janelle, so many people look up to you and I've always been amazed and impressed by your
12:42journey.
12:43My question for you is, what is the best piece of advice that you have ever received?
12:49Oh, wow.
12:51Oh, I have received a lot of advice.
12:53It doesn't mean I listen to it.
12:55Literally.
12:56Oprah said this, one of the things that we have to realize is that everybody is not going
13:02to be happy for you.
13:04Oh, yeah.
13:04Say it again.
13:05That part.
13:06Say it again.
13:07In your circle.
13:08That's right.
13:09And externally.
13:10You're going to come up against people that will pretend like, oh, this is so great.
13:18Yep.
13:18But because they feel close to your orbit, they think you owe them something.
13:24Yep.
13:24They make you feel guilty about not giving them something and not really happy because
13:29maybe you're where they want it to be.
13:32Yeah.
13:32I wish I would have known that sooner.
13:35Yeah.
13:36You know?
13:36Because it would have saved me a lot of just like expectations of, well, I thought this
13:42was supposed to be, you know, a best friend or a family member.
13:45And here they are telling me that they were jealous.
13:49Or even if they didn't say it, their actions were just like stemming from that.
13:53Yeah.
13:54You know?
13:54Absolutely.
13:55100%.
13:56What's the next question?
13:59Hi, my name's Bea.
14:01I'm from London.
14:02And I find that heartbreak can be one of the most inspiring places to create from.
14:09So my question is, what's been one of your biggest heartbreaks?
14:13Ooh.
14:14That's a very good question.
14:17I think my biggest heartbreak is when I let myself down.
14:22Yeah.
14:23Yeah.
14:23About like when I feel like I'm scared or I didn't really take in that moment.
14:28Like I could have.
14:28I can relate to that.
14:29Yeah.
14:30Yeah.
14:30It's like I'm judging myself.
14:32Yeah.
14:32And then you're sitting in regret.
14:34Yes.
14:35Yeah.
14:35I've done that so many times after performances.
14:37Oof.
14:38Like I look back at them, I'm like, this was wrong.
14:40This was wrong.
14:41Yeah.
14:41And that just breaks my heart.
14:42Why did I pile onto myself?
14:44Yeah.
14:45Like it's enough people that don't know me that will have things to say.
14:48Right.
14:48But I was joining in on that.
14:50Yeah.
14:50And that's what helped me.
14:51You can relate to that.
14:52I love that.
14:52Oh my goodness.
14:53Yeah.
14:54Yeah.
14:54The amount of self-torture I've done after shows, albums, anything.
15:00Yeah.
15:00It's ridiculous.
15:02I feel like artists, we just can relate to that.
15:04We can be in our own head.
15:05Yeah.
15:06And that's definitely a heartbreak.
15:07And you are the only one that can fix that.
15:09Yeah.
15:09You have to really let it go.
15:11It's true.
15:12And really believe.
15:13I can't do that to me.
15:14Right.
15:14I love me.
15:16I just love everything that you stand for.
15:18So, so many people find you as such a huge inspiration.
15:21Let me just say, when you made the choice to say, no mom, no dad.
15:26Yeah.
15:27This is what I want to do.
15:28Totally.
15:29That was inspiring for me.
15:30During the time when I was trying to ask myself what I wanted to do, when I was making
15:34decisions.
15:35Totally.
15:35I was like, if Little Willow is out here being like, having a hit song or doing whatever,
15:41and being like, no, that's not what I want to do.
15:44And then completely blossoms into something that feels so just organically you.
15:52Yeah.
15:52When I saw you, I was just like flabbergasted.
15:56I always tell her.
15:57Yeah.
15:58Like in the best possible way.
16:00Let me ask you, we're talking about how much you inspired other people, but who did
16:05you look to for inspiration?
16:07I am a Lauryn Hill disciple.
16:09I'd always thought she looked like somebody in my family.
16:12So much so when I met her, she said that to me.
16:14But I knew I couldn't be like her.
16:16Right.
16:16Yeah, no.
16:17She's one of one.
16:18So I had to really figure out Janelle Monae.
16:21That's right.
16:21So that was inspiring.
16:23And also Prince.
16:23I actually was scared of Prince, though, before I met him.
16:26I had a dream that he would chase me around in a purple suit.
16:29Yeah.
16:31Prince had a very witchy energy.
16:34It was super like.
16:36And then when I met him, though, it was just like, man.
16:39Yeah.
16:40Like.
16:41He was a great person.
16:43He was a great person.
16:44Incredible.
16:45Never allowed his mystery to get in the way of his mentorship.
16:49That's right.
16:50He never allowed that.
16:51No.
16:52Wait, hold on.
16:52Repeat that.
16:53Yeah.
16:53He never allowed his mystery to get in the way of his mentorship.
16:57Yep.
16:57Wow.
16:58That is so important.
16:59And that's something I try to live by.
17:00Never allowed that.
17:01You gotta share these seeds, man.
17:03Yeah.
17:03Like we need each up.
17:05Like somebody who has walked this path.
17:07Being able to sit down and talk to you and say, here are the mistakes that I made.
17:11That's right.
17:11Here's what I see you're doing amazing.
17:13Here's where I see, you know, maybe you may need some help here.
17:15We were very close.
17:16That's amazing.
17:17Very, very close.
17:18And I always, he just always feels with me and with us.
17:22Yeah.
17:22The main thing I always admired about Prince was just the scope of his musicianship.
17:27Yeah.
17:28Like you would look at the credits on a song and it would be like, bass, Prince.
17:31Everything.
17:32Keyboard Prince.
17:33Right.
17:33The lyrics Prince.
17:34Lyrics Prince.
17:35Like, oh my goodness.
17:36Wow.
17:37Oh, oh yes.
17:38Oh my.
17:39So this photo, this was me opening up for him.
17:43Right.
17:43He came out during my set and performed with me.
17:46That's him.
17:47I featured him on my second album.
17:49He didn't charge me anything to be on my album.
17:51Yeah.
17:51Wow.
17:52Right.
17:52That's so interesting.
17:53So you actually made a book of essays.
17:57Yeah.
17:58A short story sci-fi collection.
18:01Nice.
18:01And it was inspired by the album and the film that I did, Dirty Computer.
18:06They started calling us computers.
18:08You were dirty if you looked different.
18:11You were dirty if you refused to live the way they dictated.
18:15Janelle has turned her futuristic vision into a new sci-fi book, The Memory Librarian.
18:20The five short stories, each written by a different co-author, explore queer identity, race, and love.
18:26All are set in the same harsh future, a dismal place where anyone labeled deviant has their memories wiped clean,
18:33so they forget who they love and what they believe.
18:37Wow.
18:39So if you're a dirty computer, if you're queer, if you don't share the same religious beliefs,
18:44if you buck up against the system in any way, they cleaned all the memories so they can manipulate them
18:51and make this place called New Don be exactly what they want it to be.
18:55I'm having goosebumps right now.
18:57Wow.
18:58I collaborated with five black writers.
19:00That's beautiful.
19:01Danny Lohr, Eve L. Ewing, Cherie Renee Thomas, Johanka Delgado, and Aliyah Don Johnson.
19:08But the cool thing about The Memory Librarian is all of the leads are non-binary.
19:13Black folks in the LGBTQI plus community are women.
19:17Yeah.
19:18We don't just stay down.
19:19Yeah.
19:20Like, we get up.
19:21We fight.
19:21You know, this is a reminder that in every era, if you try to oppress the marginalized, you will not
19:28win.
19:29So that's the message of the book.
19:30That is the message of the book, and to protect your memories.
19:34Our memories make up the quality of our life.
19:36Yeah.
19:36I can't wait to read it.
19:39100%.
19:39All right.
19:41We wanted to meet the woman that brought you to this planet.
19:45Yes.
19:46Oh, my mommy.
19:47I love my mom so much.
19:49Ooh, that lady.
19:50I mean, a firecracker.
19:51Yeah.
19:52Like, will say what is on her mind.
19:55Mm-hmm.
19:55She had me really young.
19:57She was working class.
19:59She was a janitor.
19:59Was always in the front row at the talent showcase.
20:02It's like, my baby.
20:03Yeah.
20:04People call her Madame Hawthorne.
20:06That's right.
20:07Oh, she's showing music.
20:10She's showing music.
20:10Oh, hey.
20:13It's just so nice to meet you.
20:16Thank you so much.
20:18I love it.
20:19I love it.
20:21Have a seat, mama.
20:24Now, I'm just happy that somebody invited me.
20:27I said, are you kidding me?
20:30The red table?
20:31Let's get it.
20:32Let's get it.
20:34This is my ride or die.
20:37When I say you ride or die, I'm just like, that's it.
20:40I've taken her with me when I've gone to the White House.
20:43And they just fall into me.
20:44Where's your mama?
20:45That's right.
20:46They like my mama better than me.
20:48Willow, you look so cute.
20:50May I say to you, you act just like her.
20:55As I was watching her and all of you interacting,
21:00I said, Janelle and Willow, they are a mess.
21:04Oh, yes.
21:04Put it right here.
21:06Hot messes.
21:07Jimmy, you're so beautiful.
21:08She got it all.
21:10All the above.
21:12The look, the body, all of it.
21:13Even one.
21:14Well, you know, but I don't pray.
21:15I watch you and Rodney.
21:17Oh, my gosh.
21:19Rodney!
21:19Rodney!
21:21And I just recently got me a booth.
21:24A boat.
21:24Yes.
21:24A boat.
21:25Okay.
21:26I love that.
21:27I'm going to go down a lot.
21:28Jada.
21:29Yes, Miss Janet.
21:30And you are so talented.
21:32Well, thank you.
21:32I've watched every movie that you have made.
21:34Thank you so much.
21:36You did good.
21:37As she was growing up and finding herself, was that difficult for you?
21:42Specifically around her sexuality, too.
21:45Oh.
21:49Well, she talked to me about it before she decided to come out.
21:53Yeah.
21:54Which is good.
21:54So I was very understanding.
21:56Yeah.
21:56And Jada, when people are an adult and make their own money, what can you say to them?
22:02Oh, I know.
22:03Is this one?
22:04I can't say nothing.
22:05That's true.
22:06You and me are in the same breath.
22:08Yeah.
22:08Exactly.
22:09Yeah.
22:09I'm very proud of her.
22:11I love her unconditionally.
22:13Yeah.
22:14Nobody will take that away from them.
22:17Oh.
22:17Yes.
22:18Beautiful.
22:19But I get a lot of backlash about Janelle.
22:22I told them back at home, I said, who are you to judge?
22:26Mm-hmm.
22:26There you go.
22:27There you go.
22:27You stick up for her.
22:29Okay.
22:29All the time.
22:30Yes.
22:30They don't want the bear to come out of me.
22:32There you go.
22:33I know about that, too.
22:35Yeah.
22:36I love that.
22:37Yeah.
22:37Because they're always our little babies.
22:39And I tell you, it don't take you long to stay mad at me.
22:43Willow, how long does she stay mad at you?
22:46Oh.
22:47We usually talk.
22:48Yeah.
22:49We talk.
22:50Yeah.
22:50I try not to let it sit for long.
22:53We've only had a couple of bump-ins.
22:55Yeah.
22:55But we definitely, we're both really passionate.
22:59Yeah.
23:00So I'll just go.
23:01We sometimes need to take a moment apart to get our thoughts together.
23:04Yeah.
23:05But that's never long.
23:06Yeah.
23:07That's never too long.
23:07But I need her.
23:09So I can't be gone with, I can't be, I can't be like, I'm mad, but can you give me
23:13advice?
23:13Right.
23:14Right.
23:14Because I.
23:15This is reverse.
23:16I need her.
23:17Yeah.
23:18Yeah.
23:19But I do.
23:20I need her, too.
23:21Yeah.
23:21I need her.
23:22I need her.
23:23We all need each other.
23:24Yes.
23:24Yes.
23:25You're right, Jada.
23:25We know how to love.
23:27Yes.
23:27That's right.
23:28Grandma taught me.
23:29My grandmother did.
23:31Uh-huh.
23:31And you taught Jada.
23:33I can tell.
23:34Yeah.
23:34I was once talking to somebody, Jada, and you probably understand what I'm saying right
23:38now.
23:38I said, listen, all of us are not going to be wealthy.
23:42It's pick and choose who's going to be wealthy.
23:45Mm-hmm.
23:45And Janelle, praise the Lord, everybody's not going to be, they want to get your autograph,
23:50they want to sing.
23:52They want to pitch you a film or whatever they want to do.
23:55Right.
23:55Chosen people are that-a-way.
23:57Right.
23:58You've been chosen.
23:59Jada's been chosen.
24:00Me and Janelle ain't.
24:01We ain't been chosen.
24:03Y'all are.
24:03Y'all are.
24:03But I'm going to change that for you.
24:05What's that?
24:06I'm going to change that for you.
24:07I got a streak when your mama touches Jada.
24:10You got a beautiful soul.
24:13You got a beautiful heart.
24:15Mm.
24:15And you are a vessel for that beautiful woman right there.
24:18I try to be.
24:19I try to be.
24:20You already are.
24:21You are chosen.
24:22We are.
24:23Don't ever, ever, ever, ever think you're not.
24:25Mm-hmm.
24:26You are beautiful.
24:28That's so real.
24:29I feel that.
24:30Yeah.
24:30I feel it.
24:31There's a vibration at this table.
24:33Well, see, I can see your heart, right?
24:35You do.
24:36I do.
24:37You do that.
24:38Still, Jada.
24:39I see it!
24:40I see it!
24:42Jada, I told somebody, I'm scared of Jada.
24:46That was iconic.
24:48That was iconic.
24:49But, Miss Janet, we're so happy to have you here.
24:52Yeah.
24:52We also have a, um...
24:55We have a...
24:56A super fan.
24:56Yeah, a super fan.
24:56We set up a secret mission.
24:59Oh, my goodness.
25:01For one of your biggest fans.
25:03We flew Osei.
25:05Stop.
25:06Stop.
25:06I never had a trailer.
25:08Oh, my God.
25:09Can I take a picture of that?
25:10Yes, of course.
25:11From Ohio.
25:13Oh, my goodness.
25:13To California.
25:15To meet you.
25:16But first, just a little story of Osei.
25:20Hi, Red Table Talk.
25:21My name is Osei Arrigan.
25:22I'm 21 years old, and I'm in Columbus, Ohio.
25:25I use the pronouns they, them, theirs, and I identify as queer and non-binary.
25:29I know you're doing a show about people we admire, so I want to tell you about the impact Janelle
25:34Monae has had on my life.
25:35Wow.
25:36When I was 11, my mom introduced me to Janelle.
25:38She sent me a video for a song called Tightrope.
25:44In the video, she's wearing this iconic, tailored, dapper, black and white suit with this black bow tie.
25:51And she's singing about the importance of her own self-confidence.
25:55I saw a proud black person wearing the clothing that I wanted to wear and having the confidence that I
26:01wanted to have.
26:02During my first year of college, I volunteered with GLAAD as a campus ambassador.
26:06I wrote an article about Janelle and how her style and her creativity inspired me to be the confident person
26:14that I wanted to be.
26:15Janelle was blurring the lines between masculinity and femininity.
26:19I went to my high school prom wearing a black and white suit, and I went with my partner.
26:23Had I not seen Janelle wearing the clothing that she wore in the stages that she was on, I might
26:28not have had the confidence to do the same.
26:30I am so grateful to live in a time where Janelle exists in all of her excellence.
26:35I'm grateful that she's able to do what she's doing, and I'm grateful that I'm here to witness it.
26:39I cannot express how much I love Janelle Monae.
26:43You're my hero.
26:44Oh, my God.
26:46Wow.
26:46I am speechless.
26:48So Janelle.
26:49Yes.
26:49And Miss Janet.
26:50We're gonna be quiet.
26:51Don't say anything.
26:53Osei's gonna come on out here.
26:55They don't know.
26:56They don't know that you're here.
26:58No.
26:59Okay.
27:00Osei, come on out here and join the red table.
27:05Hey.
27:06Hi.
27:08Oh, my God.
27:10Oh, my God.
27:11Why am I crying right now?
27:13Come on.
27:13Come on.
27:15Oh, my God.
27:17Hi.
27:18Hi, darling.
27:19Hi, beautiful.
27:20Hi.
27:21Oh, my God.
27:22Your outfit was so cute.
27:24Look at you.
27:25You look so beautiful.
27:26Absolutely.
27:27Oh.
27:28Oh, my God.
27:29Oh.
27:29It's so nice to meet you.
27:31You have brought tears to my eyes.
27:33Stop.
27:34Oh, my God.
27:34You're like...
27:38I don't have words.
27:39You're like one of the most iconic people.
27:42Oh, my God.
27:43Here.
27:43Sit down.
27:44Do we have a chair?
27:45Oh, my gosh.
27:46Why don't you let her sit there?
27:48You sit...
27:48Wait, I...
27:50But look.
27:50But look at all this.
27:52Look at all this.
27:52This is my mom.
27:54Here, sit here.
27:55This is why I'm here.
27:56Oh, my God.
27:56This is who got me here.
27:57Can I give you a hug?
27:59Miss Janet.
28:00Because I don't know you, but you...
28:02Whatever you did, you produced a wonderful daughter.
28:09Aw.
28:10So, thank you for being her mom.
28:12Look at...
28:12Like, look at all this.
28:13Oh, my gosh.
28:14She don't say, come on.
28:15Please sit down, sweetie.
28:17Oh, my Lord.
28:18Yeah, go ahead and sit down.
28:20Have there been anyone else in...
28:21Like, I would've stopped...
28:23Yeah.
28:24This is just a lot.
28:25That's okay.
28:25I promise I'm usually more eloquent.
28:27We're both balls.
28:27Like, it's cute.
28:29I know.
28:29Man, you came all the way from Ohio?
28:31Yeah, and it was just to talk about how great you are.
28:33Like, I didn't think you were gonna be here.
28:34Like, I was not prepared for that.
28:36I would've tried to find a cuter outfit.
28:38First of all, you look...
28:39You look great.
28:41You look so amazing.
28:42Oh, my gosh.
28:42You do.
28:44And the words that you spoke, I got a chance to watch.
28:47So true.
28:47Yes.
28:47Stop.
28:49Hearing you talk made me want to just do my absolute best...
28:55You do.
28:55You do.
28:56To make people like you feel a part of a community, in a community, seen, heard, loved, cared for.
29:03This is exactly the reason why I do what I do, honestly.
29:05Yeah.
29:05Like, forget all of my whatever it is that I'm going through.
29:09But being able to touch somebody like you, that right there means the most to me.
29:15And I just want to tell you that you are absolutely incredible in your own journey and who you are.
29:22I know that you look up to me.
29:23You look up to Willow.
29:24We inspire.
29:25But you have something that you are uniquely designed and put here to do.
29:31Yes.
29:31And be.
29:32Ain't nobody gonna be able to tell me nothing now.
29:34I'm cool.
29:36You are.
29:37You are.
29:38And I cannot wait to see what it is that you have to say and what you do.
29:42What are you passionate about?
29:43I'm pursuing dual degrees in political science and Chinese.
29:47Yes.
29:47Awesome.
29:48Congratulations.
29:49That's awesome.
29:51Yeah.
29:52That's awesome.
29:52I graduate in May.
29:54We love a scholar.
29:55Yes.
29:55We're trying out here.
29:57Yeah.
29:57So I got a job.
29:59I'm moving to New York City.
30:00I love it.
30:00That's amazing.
30:02That's amazing.
30:03That's important.
30:04It is important.
30:05Everything we're talking about.
30:07You're gonna do incredible things.
30:08Yeah.
30:08And I wish you nothing but the best.
30:10100%.
30:10This has been a fan-tastic show.
30:14It really has.
30:14Is it okay if we gather and take some pictures?
30:17All right.
30:17Oh my gosh.
30:18Should we put these two together?
30:19How was your blood here?
30:20Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful table.
30:23That's such a cute outfit.
30:25It is so cute.
30:26I love her.
30:26I wish I could wear latex like that.
30:29You could.
30:30You can.
30:32Latex is hot.
30:33It's hot.
30:33You just get to an age where you just can't do it.
30:37You're hilarious.
30:37Girl, I got some latex pants.
30:39I was like, ugh.
30:39Yeah, putting on latex is a serious thing.
30:43It's hot.
30:44We are so drunk the Lil Honey
30:44Three years.
30:47Others have a good line.
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