Jameela Jamil responds to backlash, says she was never the host of HBO Max's voguing competition

Los Angeles Times

HBO Max's announcement Tuesday afternoon that "Jameela Jamil will MC and judge" the nine-episode reality voguing competition Legendary, highlighting modern day ball culture, quickly sparked backlash, particularly in the LGBTQ community. HBO Max and The Good Place alum came under fire because Jamil hasn't been part of the ballroom scene and isn't a member of the LGBTQ community. But Jamil says HBO Max's announcement got it wrong: she's just a judge, not the host of the show. She tweeted that Pose actor, dancer and ballroom scene veteran Dashaun Wesley, a member of the LGBTQ community known as the "King of Vogue," is the actual MC of Legendary, even though HBO Max's press release lists him as a "commentator." As the Los Angeles Times' Tracy Brown explained of the initial backlash, "ballroom is an underground LGBTQ subculture that can trace its roots back to 1920s New York. Balls were a place for predominantly black and Latino members of the LGBTQ community to participate in drag competitions in various categories, playing up the performative nature of gender. They were important safe spaces for queer and trans people, particularly in the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and violence against trans women of color." Transparent alum and transgender actress Trace Lysette was among those complaining about Jamil's casting, tweeting: "Lol.. I interviewed for this gig. As the mother of a house for nearly a decade it’s kind of kind blowing when ppl with no connection to our culture gets the gig. This is not shade towards Jameela, I love all that she stands for. If anything I question the decision makers." When the announcement was made, Jamil tweeted: "I’m *so* excited to be a tiny part of bringing ballroom further into the mainstream where it belongs. I’m here to celebrate some of the coolest, most talented people on the planet who deserve center stage. I’m honoured to join these brilliant artists." But Jamil later deleted the tweet and denied she had been cast as the host. "I’m not the MC! @DashaunWesley is. Not me," she tweeted at HBO Max's PR account. Jamil also responded to Lysette, tweeting: "Hey trace. I think you auditioned to be one of the house mothers. I’m just one of the judges. Not a house mother. We weren’t up for the same thing... I’m NOT the MC. The brilliant @DashaunWesley is. I think you’re f*cking amazing, in every way. And send you (love)." For his part, Wesley responded that Jamil is "not lying," adding: "Like she stated I am the MC. Wording can get the world stirred. But she will be fine."