Most of us know Amber Riley — actor, recording artist, celebrated stage performer, and Grammy nominee to boot with quite an expansive resume and also the voice of an angel. Back in the day, you probably watched her on Glee.
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Amber, who periodically uses her stage name RILEY for contemporary credits, initially rose to fame when the musical comedy-drama series debuted in 2009.
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She was cast as Mercedes Jones, a lead role on the show and frontrunner in its fictional glee club. Amber appeared in Glee throughout all six seasons, until the finale in 2015.
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Since then she’s landed the iconic part of Effie in the West End’s production of Dreamgirls, won Dancing With the Stars, and launched a solo music career. But for some reason, people still refer to Amber by her former Glee character’s name.
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This apparently happens often enough for Amber to address it outright. She recently took to Twitter to share her frustration and urge anyone who’s thinking about calling her Mercedes to, please, reconsider.
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“I despise when ppl call me Mercedes. Put some respect on my name,” Amber wrote. “Call me AMBER or RILEY. It’s wild that I even have to say that.” (It really is.) “No shade to the show/character that gave me a career, but please stop this shit,” she continued. “I don’t answer to it, and if you do it facetiously I’ll block you.”
I despise when ppl call me Mercedes. Put some respect on my name. Call me AMBER or RILEY. It’s wild that I even have to say that. No shade to the show/character that gave me a career, but please stop this shit. I don’t answer to it, and if you do it facetiously I’ll block you.
“I’ve done too much in my career to be reduced to one role,” she added.
I’ve done too much in my career to be reduced to one role. Whether you respect the work I’ve done or not, I don’t really care, BUT basic human decency is to recognize me as a person and use my actual name. Boundaries ????
“Whether you respect the work I’ve done or not, I don’t really care, BUT basic human decency is to recognize me as a person and use my actual name. Boundaries.”
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Amber’s initial set of tweets prompted wider conversation on Twitter, and she continued to make her point in direct exchanges with fans. When one user suggested that some folks might address her as Mercedes because they’re excited about Glee, she replied: “I’m emotionally intelligent enough to know the difference between someone being genuinely excited, and someone being an Asshole.”
@Natasha96092783 I’m emotionally intelligent enough to know the difference between someone being genuinely excited, and someone being an Asshole. This was mainly for the assholes ????. BUT, there is nothing wrong with telling people how you want to be addressed.
“This was mainly for the assholes,” Amber added. “BUT, there is nothing wrong with telling people how you want to be addressed.”
“People hate when black ppl advocate for themselves and it shows. I don’t even think what I said was wild,” she wrote, before adding in another reply, “As a black woman I’ve learned I have to advocate for myself and set clear boundaries because no one else will do it for me!”
@myabriabe People hate when black ppl advocate for themselves and it shows. I don’t even think what I said was wild ????
@_ThisIsSoGhetto Periodt. As a black woman I’ve learned i have to advocate for myself and set clear boundaries because no one else will do it for me! (Well my fiancé will but he just be wantin to beat ppl up ????????♀️, I’m the safer option ????)
Amber ended the series of tweets by thanking her followers. “I love y’all for respecting what I had to say!” she wrote. “It’s always all love and I appreciate the support!”
I love y’all for respecting what I had to say! It’s always all love and I appreciate the support! ????????
