Amanda Seales
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Seales in 2019
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| Born | Amanda Ingrid Seales (1981-07-01) July 1, 1981 (age 42)
Inglewood, California, U.S.
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| Education | State University of New York, Purchase (BA) Columbia University (MA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Comedy career | |
| Medium |
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| Genres | Stand-up comedy |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Website | amandaseales |
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Musical artist
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Amanda Ingrid Seales (born July 1, 1981), formerly known by the stage name Amanda Diva, is an American actress, author, activist, media personality, podcaster, comedian and poet. From 2017 to 2021, she starred in the HBO comedy series Insecure. In 2019, HBO released her first stand-up comedy special I Be Knowin.[1] Then, in 2020, Seales launched Smart Funny & Black, a comedy gameshow that showcases Black culture, history, and experience.[2] Seales was also one of the co-hosts of the syndicated daytime talk show, The Real.[3]
Amanda Seales was born in Inglewood. Her mother was born and raised in Mt. Moritz, Grenada. Her father is an African-American from Roxbury, Boston.[4] As a result, both she and her mother are dual citizens of the US and Grenada. She moved to Orlando, Florida, in 1989, where she later attended Dr. Phillips High School. She graduated from SUNY-Purchase, then earned a master's degree in African-American studies with a concentration in Hip hop from Columbia University.[5][6][7]
Seales's first film was a minor role as Katy in the 1993 movie Cop and a Half.[8] The next year Seales was featured on the Nickelodeon sitcom My Brother and Me (1994) as Deonne Wilburn. In 2002 she appeared on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam.[9] Seales became publicly known as "VJ Amanda Diva" on MTV2 Sucker Free Countdown on Sundays.[5] In 2016 she appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series Insecure, as Tiffany DuBois.[10] Also in 2016, Seales began hosting her own show on truTV called Greatest Ever.[11][12]
On January 26, 2019, HBO debuted her first stand-up comedy special I Be Knowin'.[13] Bring the Funny is a comedy competition series that premiered on July 9, 2019, on NBC.[14] Seales hosts, alongside judges Kenan Thompson, Chrissy Teigen, and Jeff Foxworthy.[15]
Throughout 2019, Seales served as a frequent guest host for the syndicated daytime talk show The Real.[16] On January 6, 2020, Seales was promoted from guest co-host to permanent co-host.[17] She departed the series after six months of co-hosting, citing her dissatisfaction with the inability to openly speak on recent social issues as a reason.[18][19] In September 2020, Seales accused The Real of stealing ideas from her show Smart Funny & Black, saying The Real's segment "Black Lives Matter University" featured a logo that closely resembled Smart Funny & Black's emblem.[20]
In June 2020, Seales hosted the BET Awards 2020.[21]
In February 2022, Seales was cast in the three-part documentary series Everything's Gonna Be All White, airing on Showtime.[22]
In 2007, Seales replaced Natalie Stewart of the musical duo Floetry on tour with Marsha Ambrosius, and in December of that same year Seales (as Amanda Diva) released her first extended play (EP) Life Experience.[citation needed] In 2008, she was featured on the song "Manwomanboogie" on Q-Tip's Grammy-nominated album The Renaissance.[23] On March 3, 2009, Seales released Spandex, Rhymes & Soul.[24][25][26]
Seales hosts a weekly podcast titled Small Doses.[17][27]
She created and hosts the touring variety game show, Smart Funny & Black, where her love of games and music, was used to serve as a safe space for the Black voice and celebrates the many contributions Black Americans have made to history and pop culture and more.[28]
In 2010, Seales teamed up with Truth, to start an anti-smoking campaign.[29]
In November 2014, Seales appeared in a segment on CNN alongside Steve Santagati, hosted by Fredricka Whitfield, discussing the video 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman. During the segment, Seales said that men catcalling women is not complimentary and that women do not like being catcalled, while Santagati went on to defend men catcalling women, saying that women should take catcalling as a compliment and not abuse.[30][31]
On June 11, 2017, during a livestream on Katy Perry's YouTube channel, an exchange took place between Seales and Caitlyn Jenner, with Seales saying that Jenner benefits from white privilege. Towards the end of the exchange, Seales told Jenner "This country is here for you. This country ain’t here for me in the same way, sis".[32] Seales has attributed this exchange to her becoming an activist.[33]
In October 2023, Seales signed the Artists4Ceasefire open letter to Joe Biden, President of the United States, calling for a ceasefire of the Israeli bombardment of Gaza.[34]
On April 18, 2022, Seales began co-hosting a new weekly radio show, Amanda Seales’ Smart Funny & Black Radio on SiriusXM, alongside Taj Rani and JeremiahLikeTheBible, featuring topics such as games, celebrity interviews and African-American culture.[35]
Seales's first book, 'Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use' was also released in 2019. The book is an extension of her podcast of the same name. It is a volume of essays, axioms, original illustrations, and photos from her trademark "self-help from the hip” style of commentary.[36]
In 2019, Seales was involved in a controversy where many people mistakenly reported that she had accused former NFL player and neurosurgeon resident Myron Rolle of sexually harassing several women. She made several Instagram videos alleging he was sexually inappropriate, and was sharing that she had heard those allegations from other women. Multiple people who were spreading that story have since admitted that Seales did not make those allegations herself.[37][38][39]
In the weeks preceding Rodney Reed's November 20, 2019, execution date, Seales publicly urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to exonerate Reed or stay his execution. She later rescinded her support after learning more about his history.[40]
In February 2020, Seales drew controversy while on The Real when defending Jussie Smollett after he was arrested for faking a hate crime. While describing the accusations as alleged, she went on to defend the actor saying, "Even if it was a hoax for the sake of bringing attention to this, then I’m like, that’s low-key noble".[41] In 2022, Smollett was found guilty of orchestrating a fake hate crime and sentenced to 150 days in prison.[42]
In 2021, Seales was criticized for portraying an Alpha Kappa Alpha, or "AKA," on the series Insecure. Real-life members of the sorority responded negatively to Seales' character wearing the shield & letters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. which violates trademark laws.[43] Seales responded to the criticism in an Instagram video defending her portrayal.[44] It was later reported that the sorority plans to take legal action against Seales.[45]
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Life Experience |
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| Spandex, Rhymes & Soul |
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| Madame Monochrome |
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| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Foreplay |
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| Technicolor Lover |
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| Title | Year | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Manwomanboogie"[51] | 2008 | The Renaissance | Q-Tip |
| "Get Right"[52] | 2010 | Rebel Without Applause | Johnny Polygon |
| "Blvd Broad"[52] | |||
| "You Belong to Me"[53] | Catch-Up | ||
| "Beautiful Things" | LIFE | Kenichiro Nishihara | |
| "Proud 2 Be"[54] | 2012 | Crack on Steroids | N.O.R.E., M-1 |
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Neon" (featuring Johnny Polygon) |
2009 | Lyn-don McCray[55] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Cop and a Half | Katy | |
| 2006 | Freedomland | Angry Female Tenant | |
| 2011 | Identical | Poet #2 | |
| 2016 | Ladies Book Club | Helena | TV movie |
| 2018 | The Story of Our Times | Shancy | TV movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | My Brother and Me | Deonne Wilburn | Recurring Cast |
| 2002–05 | Def Poetry Jam | Herself | Episode: "Episode #2.5" & "#5.8" |
| 2010 | Undateable | Herself | Main Guest |
| 2011 | Independent Lens | Herself | Episode: "Deaf Jam" |
| 2012 | MTV's Hip Hop POV | Herself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host |
| Made | Herself/Made Coach | Episode: "Professional Actress: Rita" | |
| 2013 | Big Evening Buzz | Herself/Panelist | Episode: "Dido" |
| Master of the Mix | Herself/Host | Main Host: Season 3 | |
| Big Morning Buzz Live | Herself/Panelist | Recurring Panelist | |
| 2015 | The View | Herself/Guest Co-Host | Episode: "Episode #18.85" |
| 2015–17 | Get Your Life | Herself | Main Cast |
| 2016 | Comedy Knockout | Herself | Episode: "That Ass, Tho" |
| 2016–17 | Greatest Ever | Herself/Host | Main Host |
| 2016–21 | Insecure | Tiffany DuBois | Recurring Cast |
| 2017 | Hood Adjacent with James Davis | Herself | Episode: "Black Twitter" |
| @midnight | Herself | Episode: "Episode #4.42" & "#4.136" | |
| Gay of Thrones | Herself | Episode: "The Sores of Whores" | |
| 2017–20 | The Real | Herself/Co-Host | Guest Co-Host: Season 4, Main Co-Host: Season 6 |
| 2018 | Black-ish | Barbara | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| Animals. | Tia/Waitress 1 (voice) | Episode: "Rats" | |
| 2018–19 | Hip Hop Squares | Herself/Panelist | Recurring Panelist: Season 5-6 |
| 2019 | Bring the Funny | Herself/Host | Main Host |
| Camp Confessions | Herself | Episode: "Amanda Seales Makes Love to Spirit" | |
| 2019–21 | To Tell the Truth | Herself/Panelist | Guest Panelist: Season 4-5 &7[56] |
| 2020 | Cooked with Cannabis | Herself | Episode: "High Holidays" |
| Floored | Herself/Guest Judge | Episode: "Beware the Bears" | |
| BET Awards | Herself/Host | Main Host | |
| Hollywood Game Night | Herself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Twitch & Shout" | |
| Match Game | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Episode #5.8" | |
| 2021 | Fast Foodies | Herself | Episode: "Amanda Seales" |
| Finding Magic Mike | Herself | Episode: "A Talented Man" | |
| 2022 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "Wrestling While Black" |
| Everything's Gonna Be All White | Herself | Main Guest | |
| Inventions That Changed History | Herself | Recurring Guest | |
| Celebrity Game Face | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Cedric The Entertainer Busts Kevin's Chops" | |
| Wheel of Fortune | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Amanda Seales, Snoop Dogg, Mark Duplass" | |
| Mickey Mouse Funhouse | Annie the Giant (voice) | Recurring Cast: Season 1 | |
| Sherman's Showcase | Faith Evans | Episode: "Fashion!" | |
| 2022–23 | 25 Words or Less | Herself/Contestant | Recurring Contestant: Season 3-5 |
| 2022–24 | Pictionary | Herself/Team Captain | Recurring Team Captain: Season 1, Guest Team Captain: Season 2 |
| 2023 | See It Loud: The History of Black Television | Herself | Recurring Guest |
| The $100,000 Pyramid | Herself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Will Sasso vs. Amanda Seales and Dulé Hill vs. Francia Raisa" | |
| Name That Tune | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Lightning & Glitter!" | |
| Celebrity Squares | Herself/Contestant | Recurring Guest | |
| Celebrity Jeopardy! | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Quarter Final #9: Kyra Sedgwick, Mo Rocca and Amanda Seales" | |
| Crimson Hearts Collide | Kelsey | Main Cast |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Beef 4 |
| 2008 | Big Pun: The Legacy |
| 2014 | Bottoms Up |
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| National |
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