Actor Da’Vinchi, who rose to fame playing Darnell Hayes on All-American, is the latest celeb to spark a diaspora debate as social media side eyes his comments about British and Caribbean actors playing Americans.
When asked about actors from other backgrounds frequently being cast in American roles, the BMF star spoke on what he feels is a difference in work ethic.
“I do think that the work ethic of Americans is one that people in a higher position don’t feel they can trust them,” he said. “I feel like my generation, our generation, what we’re seeing is that humans are becoming more incompetent. And America is producing, like we baby our kids in a way that is unheard of. You’ve got people that are 25, 35, who are like kids. They can’t even do their own laundry. They can’t wipe their own a**. For me, I was fortunate, I was born here but my parents aren’t from here. My grandmother helped raised me and she didn’t speak English. So, at home was Haiti and on the outside world it was America.”
He continued,
“I had work ethic. I was determined. I could take care of myself fully at like 8-years old. But in America, no shade to you guys, but the way the culture moved the majority of its citizens, you’re just incompetent for a really long time. I think this country promotes that.”
When questioned by Cam on whether or not that was a sweeping generalization that could be better described as his own personal experience, Da’Vinchi doubled down on his assertion that America breeds people who lack critical thinking skills, the ability to work hard, and who have curiosity that stretches beyond what they know.
Of course, he conveniently left out that every role he’s played was created by those incompetent Americans, with little to no work ethic, that he spoke of. Da’Vinchi then made his way over to Threads to try to speak his peace and set the record straight. However, the damage had already been done.
In response to a comment stating, “There’s nothing else we needed to hear after being called incompetent,” Da’Vinchi claimed:
“You’re not, I’m sorry you felt like it was you. It was a generalized statement. I should’ve been more specific. Love you, queen.”
A video from a fellow actor claiming to be a former friend of Da’Vinchi called him out for being “very anti-Black” during their time together. Brandon Barry Brown said the Chicago Fire actor previously said he wanted to “stay away from the Black thing” for his personal brand and the new Cam Newton interview revealed long-held beliefs.
“He said ‘Y’all in America’ like he grew up somewhere else. You grew up here!” Brown noted. “Stop coming to our country and disrespecting it.”
Many fans of his quickly snatched back their chain of support, lumping him into a growing number of people from other ethnicities and nationalities who downplay, disrespect and disregard the culture Black people have built in the country they also crafted by hand.
Da’Vinchi’s hot takes continued to draw ire as he also seemed to compare Haiti’s defeat of France, which led to their independence but unfortunately contributes to their country’s lack of stability, with American chattel slavery. Pointing out that the Haiti’s victory over “the white man” makes them feel better than Black Americans, who were unable to escape their enslavers. Another myth often perpetuated by those who lack a full understanding of the extent of chattel slavery and have not done their proper research into the number of successful revolts carried out by the enslaved.
After attempting to clarify his remarks, it seems he gave up on it and decided to hop on the trend using Tupac’s “Hit Em Up” to remark on the firestorm he caused. Fans noted that his previous Instagram following stood at 3 million strong before the clips hit the internet and that he’d lost almost half since. Welp. Must be all that free time we all have doing nothing!
