Rapper and actor Bow Wow is starring in a new television series, a “CSI” spinoff called “CSI: Cyber.” As part of the promotion of the show, Bow Wow discussed his role while comparing his series to the blockbuster Fox show “Empire” that took the nation by storm and shattered Nielsen Ratings records.
The 28-year-old former host of BET’s “106 & Park” is playing the role of Nelson in “CSI: Cyber,” a code cracker in a high-tech version of the long-running cop franchise starring Academy Award-winner Patricia Arquette.
During the interview with Global 14, he intimated he didn’t want to play a role that perpetuates stereotypes of black men and women:
“When we were still filming Cyber episodes, Empire‘s first episode premiered. Fans were saying, ‘Man, you should have been on the show.’ But we all don’t rap or play basketball. We can do so many things. There are young African-Americans who are intelligent enough to work at the FBI. That’s what’s so bright. Hopefully, I can help start a new wave of young black actors who don’t want to stereotype themselves.”
Pretty harsh words about the runaway hit of the year. We wonder if it is a coincidence that “CSI: Cyber” also comes on Wednesday nights? Also, blacks should be aware they can be FBI agents since Attorney General Eric Holder is over the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the leader of the U.S. Department of Justice.
And it’s also ironic that Bow Wow said that ‘we all don’t rap’ but told the publication that he did just that when his character cracked a code on the show:
Colorfulness and swagger. Nelson actually did a little rap run in the first episode when he cracked a code, saying it in rhyme. My Twitter timeline filled up: “That was subliminal”; “A great way to crack the code: Bow Wow raps it out.” I give you splashes of Bow but not a lot.”
What do you think of Bow Wow’s words? Was the rapper hating on “Empire” and contradicting himself, or was he on point with his criticisms?
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