Keke Palmer clarifies ‘silly’ comments by Clair Huxtable, more like Aunt Viv anyway
While the main star of The Cosby Show is essentially a persona non grata these days, Phylicia Rashad’s Clair Huxtable remains almost beyond suspicion. That is, unless you ask Keke Palmer.
Earlier this month, Palmer had a kiki with Terrell Grice on his YouTube show The Terrell Show, during which she stepped in to play matriarch Huxtable, calling the character “uppity.”
And while she was clarifying that she was just joking, the actress and singer also explained that there was some truth in what she said.
“Clair Huxtable, she’s arrogant, guys. In a nutshell! In a nutshell!” Palmer told Grice. “Girl, say what you say! She makes me nervous sometimes. I say, ‘Clair, tell the truth, girl!’”
In a follow-up interview with SiriusXM’s The Heat, Palmer donned his professional hat and shared his “silly” comments
“I think Clair Huxtable was created at a time to fight characters like…Florida Evans,” Palmer said, referring to the Good Times working-class matriarch portrayed by Esther Rolle.
“I think Florida Evans was also needed during the time she was created,” she continued. “My final point is that I think both Florida and Clair are like that – if Florida is on the left then Clair is on the right. They are both extreme in what they are representing, which can sometimes make me feel confused.”
Palmer continues to see Aunt Viv from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as someone she can relate to, as she seems normal despite her wealth.
“Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil would stay in this big old house and Uncle Phil was a bit too much sometimes,” Palmer said. “He would be a classist, an elitist, and it was Aunt Viv who reminded him, ‘Look, we don’t have to play respectability politics. You do. intelligent body and voice.’ And I think for me, Keke Palmer, I think I represent that very much.” However, Palmer did not mention her favorite Aunt Viv (even though Janet Hubert is the OG and choice of everybody). Regardless, the Big Boss star is grateful for the Black women who have paved the way and even more grateful for the doors they have opened in terms of representation.
