Issa Rae, who went from creating her own series on YouTube to becoming a major player in Hollywood, spoke recently at TheWrap’s Creators x Hollywood Summit, noting that she is now facing a new challenge in an evolving industry.
“I’m seeing it. Just blatantly. People aren’t investing like they were before,” Rae said. “[DEI] has changed meanings and has become a bad word.” The producer added that other minority executives have told her they “can’t cosign” her projects for fear of losing their jobs in the current climate.
Critics of DEI suggest the shift away from the policy may be a good thing for Hollywood—if it’s actually happening.
Issa Rae on Hollywood’s Shifting Investment Climate
When Rae launched her YouTube series, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl in 2011, she felt that “there was a dearth of representation in the industry.” The project went on to build a large and dedicated fan base. Three years after the series ended, Rae was hired by HBO for Insecure, which she co-created, co-wrote, and produced. The show ran for five seasons, earning her multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Issa Rae in Insecure – HBO, YouTube
READ: ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ Set to Open Lower Than ‘Solo’ at Box Office
Some might assume that that level of success would have made it easier to get future projects off the ground. However, Rae argues that studios scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion policies has created new challenges.
“After so much progress, we’re kind of back to limited representation and having to stake claim of our stories,” she said. “We’re back where we started, in a way, but wiser.”
Issa Rae appears to be arguing that the reduction of DEI frameworks (which in theory returns us to a state of merit-based opportunities) has removed pathways that previously helped streamline her projects from concept to production.
Changing Pathways in a Shifting Industry
The producer noted that the way she pitches projects has also had to change. “You have to be smarter about how you package and market [projects], Rae said, now that DEI is gone. “You tell them, ‘It’s not a show about a Black woman, it’s a show about class.’ As icky as that might feel, it gets the show sold.”
Issa Rae in Insecure – HBO, YouTube
READ: Sabrina Carpenter Canceled After Coachella Cultural Mix-Up Goes Viral
Taken as a whole, her comments paint a nuanced picture. Issa Rae is not arguing that interest in DEI itself has gone away. Instead, she suggests that the frameworks and policies that once helped move projects into production are now less visible or less consistently applied.
Additionally, Rae notes that “people aren’t investing like they were before.” She does not expand on the reasons for this shift. However, her comment points to a more cautious and selective investment climate. In this environment, investment decisions may be shaped more heavily by risk management, audience reach, and projected return rather than signaling or institutional priorities alone.
Hollywood’s Identity and the Question of Demand
Stepping back to look at the entertainment industry as an outsider, Rae expresses the view that Hollywood is in the midst of an identity crisis. “It’s been disheartening to see Hollywood not make the extra effort to discover other voices outside of what’s already been risen to the top as popular,” she said.
Issa Rae for EW – Entertainment Weekly, YouTube
READ: Disney+ Members Offered Summer Resort Hotel Discounts at Walt Disney World
From a market perspective, what rises to the top and becomes popular is ultimately what takes root in culture and generates revenue. Critics of DEI argue that reduced emphasis on such frameworks reflects a return to audience-driven filtering, where projects succeed primarily through demand and performance rather than institutional support mechanisms.
Do you believe that DEI has become a “bad word” in Hollywood? Sound off in the comments!
UP NEXT: Sabrina Carpenter Defies Calls for Cancellation After Cultural PR Crisis at Coachella
