The Eight Celebrities I Most Hope Aren’t Super Racist in Real Life

Tom Hanks receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom (U.S. Government)

At some point in time, I imagine we’ve all had at least one “Say it ain’t so” moment where we found ourselves genuinely disappointed by something a celebrity did or said. It’s practically an inevitable part of growing up, as when you idolize people you don’t actually know, you’re all but guaranteed to be let down at some point along the way. One day you’re singing along to their latest party anthem, the next they’re getting arrested for assault. One day they’re co-starring in the greatest comedic film trilogy of all time, the next they’re leading a low-speed police chase throughout Southern California, the prime suspect in a grizzly double homicide. Sure that last example’s a bit extreme (Back to the Future is probably the stronger trilogy top-to-bottom, if I had to choose), but the point remains: Just because you love watching them work, and just because they’re great at their jobs, doesn’t mean they’re great people.

For that very reason, whenever I start to really enjoy a White entertainer’s work and/or public persona these days, I almost reflexively find myself saying, “I sure hope they’re not racist.” After all, it’s fun to root for people, and you’d hate to discover that someone you enjoy actually hates you, or at least would hate you if they were aware of your existence.

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