Source: Michael Tullberg / Getty
In a new interview with our brother site Bossip before tonight’s Basketball Wives reunion (Part I of II), Evelyn Lozada is looking to clear up the belief that she’s a racist, colorist and a bully.
The 43-year-old acknowledged that colorism is a real issue for “women of color,” being careful not to necessarily identify herself as Black though she does identify as Afro-Latina, but she said she is not a colorist or racist because she too faces discrimination and works with fellow “women of color.” However, she didn’t speak on the fact that she called co-star Cece Gutierrez “Lee Lee” in Season 7, nor the fact that she’s been called out for using the N-word for years and referring to ex Chad Johnson as “blue black” in an old tweet.
“I think the initial criticisms were of reality television, in general, highlighting a sentiment that there is a widespread issue of colorism plaguing women of color as to how they are portrayed and treated on television. If you ask me if I agree with that question, I would say that we must all be a little more cognizant of how we all can play a role in bringing awareness and effecting change,” she said. “With respect to the question around racism, nothing could be further from the truth. For anyone to call me a racist or a bigot against my own people is simply bananas and misinformed. 90% of the people I work with are people of color and 98% are women. And the same numbers, if not higher apply to my personal businesses. Besides, last time I looked in the mirror I was a woman of color–who has to more often than not, navigate through unchartered “real life” discrimination. Addressing false claims about racism and bigotry seems to be a waste of valuable time. I’ll just leave it there.”
She also said that she didn’t see herself as a bully, but could see how some of the ways in which she comes off could be taken in a negative way by others.
“The biggest misconception is that I am a bully. I’ve come to realize that outspokenness could be misconstrued for something that it’s really not,” she said. “My family and friends know me, love me and accept complete and utter honesty from me. I’ve thought long and hard about this and concluded that there is a difference in how my directness and candor is received by those I personally know and those I don’t. I will do better…”
But as far as the belief that there is a double standard when it comes to what is acceptable behavior for her versus on-screen (and off) nemesis Ogom “OG” Chijindu, she doesn’t agree. In fact, she implied that OG brought a lot of what she received on herself.
“I treat people how I want to be treated and I will react if I’m being treated badly—I’m human,” she said. “For example, if I walked around with a negative disposition sprinkled with an authoritarian mannerism, how should I expect to be received and treated? What I will never do is cry wolf, act like a victim or manufacture a storyline to remain relevant.”
Interesting enough though, when asked if she thought things could ever be resolved between herself and OG, Evelyn didn’t shut down the idea.
“That question can be best answered by Ogom, not me.”
Nevertheless, Evelyn is suing her co-star for defamation and emotional distress over claims that the Basketball Wives veteran is a “racist bigot.” She also just filed for a restraining order against her, so it sounds like any chance at these ladies making nice won’t be happening — at least not anytime soon.
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