TCA: Critics Of ‘Chozen’s Gay White Rapper Character Need To Get A Sense Of Humor, Says Actor
Diane Haithman contributes to Deadline’s TCA coverage.
Those who are blasting FX’s new animated series Chozen (which premiered last night) for featuring a gay white rapper (voiced by SNL’s Bobby Moynihan) need to grow a sense of humor, says series’ voice actor Method Man. On today’s TCA panel for Chozen (Moynihan appeared via satellite), Method Man said that he didn’t have “even a second thought about the character” when he signed on for the show. “It didn’t occur to me that there would be a problem, I didn’t react like that.”
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When a reporter in the audience pointed out that the show makes fun of hip-hop, the performer grinned. “Absolutely, and that makes me want to do it even more,” he said. “It is making fun of hip-hop, gay people, [everyone].” He blasted rap artists who put themselves on a pedestal: “Got to knock people off their horse now and then,” he said.
After the panel Method Man said he understands the hip-hop culture’s protectiveness of the genre, saying “it speaks to us” because it harks back to the drumming of slaves to communicate when “they were denied other means.” But “they also have to realize this a just a cartoon,” he added.
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For the record, Moynihan does not do his own rapping, that duty falls to executive producer Danny McBride. After the panel, show creator Grant Dekernion said he chose Moynihan for the role of Chozen because his SNL amiability helps make the show’s raunchy humor more palatable.
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