I like Terrence J. I really do. He's one of the few E! News correspondents that I actually enjoy, and he's usually very on his game at red carpets. But something was off with Terrence J on the 2015 Billboard Music Awards red carpet because he started a trend where he either called women "crazy," asked male performers if their female costars are crazy in general or crazy while at work. Terrence, my man, what gives?
I get that Terrence J has to ask stars about those they work with, but there could be a much better way to go about it than to ask if the women are crazy. The first person Terrence asked was Bryshere Gray (aka Yazz the Greatest). Terrence asked the Empire star if his costar Taraji P. Henson was "crazy." Yazz played along, but was clearly a little uncomfortable with the question. Terrence could have gone about this question a little differently by simply asking, "What is it like to work with Taraji P. Henson?" Not a great question, but neither is "Is Taraji crazy?"
Next, Terrence had a little help with this crazy theme. He asked Ludacris, who is hosting the BBMAs with Chrissy Teigen, how he would handle hosting with Teigen. Luda responded, "I love her but she's crazy." Boys, come on. What about something a little more substantial about Chrissy Teigen? Like how she's friggin' hilarious, smart, successful, and that she's going to slay the BBMAs hosting gig?
Then the madness continued: Terrence interviewed 50 Cent and he asked the rapper about working on Spy, an action-comedy starring Melissa McCarthy. Terrence, without missing a beat, asked if McCarthy was "crazy on set." 50 Cent responded "Absolutely. I think they're all crazy." Not great, guys.
Here's the issue with all this crazy talk: These women are all crazy talented. They've accomplished things in their life that are so incredible and admirable, and we need to acknowledge that. We need to point out how they've been nominated and starred in some of the most well-known and successful TV shows and movies to ever happen to the entertainment industry, that they're known for inspiring other women by promoting body positivity, and not reduce them to the word that is continually unfairly attributed to passionate, interesting women as a means of diminishing their accomplishments. These women aren't "crazy," and you'd be crazy to think that they are anything but amazing, Terrence.
