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29 Famous Women Who've Ignored Hollywood's Toxic Tradition Of Pitting Women Against Each Other

BuzzFeed
6 min read

Warning: Some moments include topics of sexual assault and anti-Black comments. Please proceed with caution.

1.When Sheryl Lee Ralph defended her Abbott Elementary costar Quinta Brunson after Jimmy Kimmel stole the spotlight during Quinta's groundbreaking Emmys speech. Ralph said: "I was like: 'I wish that man would just get up off of the ground.' Then, I realized it was Jimmy Kimmel, and I was like: 'Oh, the disrespect, Jimmy!' But that's just me."

Brunson and Ralph in "Abbott Elementary;" Brunson and Kimmel at the 2022 Emmys
Gilles Mingasson / ABC / Wireimage / Getty Images

2.When Lizzo revealed on an Instagram Live that she received racist and anti-fat comments after dropping her music video for "Rumors," and iconic rappers Cardi B and Missy Elliott immediately came to Lizzo's side to show their unconditional love and support.

Lizzo on her Instagram Live: "If you don't like 'Rumors' the song, cool — but a lot of people don't like me because of the way I look." Cardi B's response: "Whether you skinny, big, [or] plastic, they going to always try to put their insecurities on you"
Atlantic / Nice Life / Rich Fury / Getty Images / @lizzobeeating / Via Instagram: @lizzobeeating
Missy Elliott's note to Lizzo: "Once every few decades, someone breaks the mold. And you are one of those people. Continue to shine and be blessed through your next journey. Love, Missy"
@lizzobeeating / Via Instagram: @lizzobeeating

3.When Taylor Swift sent Olivia Rodrigo a ring similar to one of her own after the success of "drivers license," celebrating the rise of a new and groundbreaking pop artist.

4.When Willow Smith revealed on Red Table Talk she used to harm herself, and Jada Pinkett Smith made sure to focus on what was really important.

Jada: "Your daughter is sharing a moment right now and you need to be present"
SiriusXM

5.When Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie were doing press for Eternals, and they couldn't help but praise each other for being the mindful, present, funny, and amazing actors and women they truly are.

Salma about Angelina: "I watched her be an amazing mother — I watched her dedication. She's very real and present." Angelina about Salma: "I was such a fan of her work. She has a reputation for being just a warm and wonderful person"
Access Hollywood

6.When Lady Gaga took to her Instagram stories to show her support for Britney Spears, and let her know how happy she was that she was finally free from her nearly 14-year conservatorship.

Lady Gaga writing: "Love you @britneyspears. Live your best life"
@ladygaga / Via Instagram: @ladygaga

7.When Lily Tomlin rocked a purse that had her Grace and Frankie costar and longtime pal, Jane Fonda's, 1970 mugshot on it.

Tomlin and Fonda at a "Grace and Frankie" Q&A screening; Fonda's 1970 mugshot
Jason Kempin / Kypros / Getty Images

8.When the crowd at the US Open in 2018 booed Naomi Osaka for beating Serena Williams, and Williams wrapped her arm around the new tennis pro and used her platform to call out the crowd's toxic behavior.

Williams to the crowd: "Let's give everyone the credit where credit's due, and let's not boo anymore. Let's be positive — congratulations, Naomi. No more booing!"
ESPN

9.When Oprah gifted 23-year-old poet Amanda Gorman a caged bird ring for Gorman to wear on the day of President Biden's inauguration. The ring was a tribute to one of Oprah's longtime heroes, Maya Angelou, who read a poem at Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993.

Gorman reading her poem at Biden's inauguration in 2021; Angelou and Oprah on stage together at "Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular" in 2011; Angelou reading her poem at Clinton's inauguration in 1993
Alex Wong / Timothy Hiatt / Consolidated News Pictures / Getty Images

10.And when Oprah hosted a Legends Ball in 2006, an event where young Black women in Hollywood celebrated trailblazers who came before them, like Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Maya Angelou, and Ruby Dee (among others).

Halle Berry thanking the legends, saying: "We thank you for the dues you've paid, for the prayers you've prayed. We thank you for showing us how to fly. By flying, we speak your name"
ABC

11.When Cate Blanchett revealed what it was like meeting Sarah Paulson for the first time, and how Paulson's wonderful reputation preceded her.

Blanchett telling Paulson: "You're one of these people that everyone loves, and your reputation just preceded you"
@wmag

12.When Mariah Carey went up on the American Idol stage to hug superfan Kelly Clarkson, and the two singers gushed over each other's legendary voices and musical talents.

Clarkson nervous about performing in front of Carey, and Carey telling her: "Please! I need your opinion on some music, darling!"
Fox

13.When Meagan Good left this encouraging comment on Leslie Jones' Instagram post after Jones revealed her struggle with self-love.

Good telling Jones: "The right people will notice you are a 'Gift.' You are SOOO dope! God ain't giving you away to just anybody. You too bomb for that"
@lesdogggg / Via instagram.com

14.When Camila Cabello, Cyndi Lauper, and other female musicians showed their support for Kesha at the 2018 Grammys after producer Dr. Luke was accused of sexually assaulting her.

Lauper, Cabello, and other female singers performing with Kesha
Jeff Kravitz / Getty Images

15.When Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 because she wanted to take care of her mental health, and she received a ton of backlash. Michelle Obama then took to Instagram to let her know just how proud she was of her decision.

Biles at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021; Obama at BookTube in 2019
Xavier Laine / Gary Miller / Getty Images / Via Twitter: @MichelleObama

16.When Emma Thompson was in the audience at Adele's An Audience With... concert, and she encouraged folks in their seats to stand up and dance along to the singer's iconic "Rolling in the Deep."

Emma Thompson mouthing to the audience: "Come on, come on, get up!" then dancing in the crowd
ITV

17.When Angela Bassett (who earned an Oscar nomination for What's Love Got to Do with It) visited Adrienne Warren backstage at Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in 2018, and praised her for portraying Tina Turner so brilliantly.

18.When Beyoncé posted a message on her website supporting Meghan Markle after her interview with Oprah, and she celebrated Markle's strength, courage, and leadership despite being mistreated by the royals.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle being interviewed by Oprah; Beyoncé's message to Markle: "Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership. We are all strengthened and inspired by you;" Markle and Beyoncé at the 2019 premiere of "The Lion King"
CBS / Harpo Productions / Beyonce / WPA Pool / Getty Images / Via beyonce.com

19.When Barbra Streisand appeared on The Judy Garland Show in 1963 in the beginning of her career, and Garland gave her advice. She visited Streisand's apartment in New York City, saying things like: "Don't let them do to you what they did to me."

Barbra and Judy on "The Judy Garland Show." Judy to Barbra: "You're so good that I...hate you! I hate you you're so good." Barbra to Judy: "You're so great, that I've been hating you for years"
CBS

20.When Taraji P. Henson gave Viola Davis (the first Black woman to win Lead Actress for a Drama Series) a standing ovation at the Emmys, even though she lost to her.

Davis thanking her fellow actors, saying: "And to the Taraji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union. Thank you for taking us over that line"

And Viola Davis thanked her fellow actors right back.

Fox

21.And when Meryl Streep lost the Oscar to her BFF Cher in 1988, and reacted by leaping up in pure joy to cheer her on.

Streep cheering on Cher as she won the Oscar in 1988
ABC

22.When Janis Joplin bought one of her musical heroes, Bessie Smith, a burial plot decades after she died because the legendary blues singer never had one (despite her groundbreaking influence in the music industry).

Joplin on "The Dick Cavett Show" in 1969; Smith posing for a portrait in the 1930s; Smith's burial plot, which reads: "The greatest blues singer in the world will never stop singing"
CBS / Bettmann / GAB Archive / Getty Images

23.When Taylor Swift inducted Carole King into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and gave her nothing but high praise, recognition, and flowers for paving the way for female songwriters in the music industry.

Taylor Swift on Carole King: "She created the purest works of love and strength and catharsis, while navigating the politics of an era that didn't make space for the idea of a female genius"
HBO

24.When Leslie Jones made her first appearance on The View in 2016 and told Whoopi Goldberg how much she influenced her growing up as a Black woman and as a comedian, leaving Goldberg speechless.

Leslie Jones telling Whoopi: "I wanna thank you from the bottom of my heart because now I know what I'm doing when I put on that 'Ghostbusters' suit and little girls see me on TV"
ABC

25.When Carol Burnett didn't have jobs lined up after her big success in Once Upon a Mattress on Broadway, and Lucille Ball showered her with various opportunities. Ball hired her as a guest star on The Lucy Show before she got her big break in 1967 with The Carol Burnett Show.

Burnett to Ball: "She gave me work when I didn't have any a lot of times" Ball to Burnett: "All I remember is every time you were on my show, you were doing yours" Burnett to Ball: "No, there were times when I really didn't have a job"
NBC / CBS

26.When Whitney Houston surprised humongous fan Brandy during a rehearsal for the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 1995. During their first meeting, Houston checked in on 16-year-old Brandy and asked how she was handling her newfound fame in the music industry.

Brandy and Whitney Houston embracing during a tearful first meeting, and Whitney asking Brandy how she's handling the first stages of fame

Two years later, Houston took Brandy under her wing when the iconic singers starred in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella together.

Extra TV

27.When Oprah's hero, sitcom legend Mary Tyler Moore, gave her the ultimate surprise and thanked her for her huge contribution to the world of television.

Mary Tyler Moore telling Oprah: "What you do on this show with such intelligence, grace, and sensitivity, and what you do for literacy, I am in awe of you"
ABC

28.When Alicia Keys hosted the 2019 Grammys and invited Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Lady Gaga on stage to celebrate their voices and contributions to the world.

Alicia Keys telling the audience: "Give it up for these magnificent goddesses!"
CBS

29.And when Adele stopped in the middle of her 2017 Grammys acceptance speech to talk about the huge impact Beyoncé (and her Lemonade album) had on her life.

Adele praising Beyoncé for the "Lemonade" album, saying it was monumental and "So well thought-out and soul-baring"
CBS
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