Keke Palmer Alleges Ryan Murphy “Ripped” Into Her While Working on ‘Scream Queens,’ Called Her “Unprofessional”
Keke Palmer is looking back on a not-so-positive experience while filming Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the actress discusses writing her upcoming memoir Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, in which she shares anecdotes from her career. In the book, Palmer writes of her two seasons on the Fox series Scream Queens, alongside Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Skyler Samuels and Lea Michele.
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Specifically, she recalls a time Murphy allegedly called her “unprofessional” and a former co-star made a racist remark to her.
According to the L.A. Times, Palmer describes how after reviewing her shooting schedule, she arranged to take care of another business obligation on one of her days off. However, when that day came, production informed her that she was actually needed on set after all. But after Palmer decided to keep her prior obligation, she writes that it resulted in an angry phone call with Murphy in which he “ripped” into her and accused her of being unprofessional.
“It was kind of like I was in the dean’s office,” Palmer said. “He was like, ‘I’ve never seen you behave like this. I can’t believe that you, out of all people, would do something like this.'”
Palmer apologized and things seemed to her like they were OK, but a co-star told the actress otherwise. “I said, ‘Ryan talked to me and I guess he’s cool, it’s fine,’ and she was like, ‘It’s bad,’ trying to make me scared or something, which was a little irritating,” Palmer said.
Palmer went on to say that the incident may have prevented her from being a regular collaborator of Murphy’s like Sarah Paulson and Roberts, who have starred in multiple projects for him.
“I’m still not sure Ryan cared, or got it, and that’s okay because he was just centering his business, which isn’t a problem to me,” she writes in the book. “But what I do know is even if he didn’t care, and even if I never work with him again, he knows that I, too, see myself as a business.”
While starring on the show, Palmer also writes that a white actress, whom she keeps anonymous and refers to as “Brenda,” allegedly made a racist remark to her on set. After the actress grew upset over an issue with a colleague, Palmer suggested they calm down and everyone “have fun and respect each other.”
“Keke, literally, just don’t. Who do you think you are? Martin f—— Luther King?” Palmer writes that the person said in response.
“It was such a weighted thing that she said, but I didn’t allow that weight to be projected on me, because I know who I am,” Palmer said. “I’m not no victim. That’s not my storyline, sweetie. I don’t care what her ass said. If I allow what she said to cripple me, then she would.”
A rep for Murphy has not yet responded to The Hollywood Reporter’s request for comment.
Palmer’s Scream Queens co-star Skyler Samuels took to Instagram to praise Palmer for speaking out about the experience, adding that making the series was “challenging.”
“I am incredibly proud of Keke for speaking out about her experiences on Scream Queens. That’s what Keke does, she speaks up and stands up, for herself and others. Scream Queens was a very challenging show to make. Keke was one of the only people who stood up for me. She was brave enough to have my back even though she knew that it might make her a target of bullies on set. I have unending gratitude for the professionalism and kindness Keke showed me. She is a leading lady in this industry who is well aware of her influence, and she uses it for the better,” Samuels wrote alongside a photo of her and Palmer on the red carpet.
In her memoir, which publishes Nov. 19, Palmer “talks about everything from her struggles with boundaries to unconditional love, forgiveness and worthiness.” She also “gets candid about the tools she’s developed to take the reins, harness her vulnerability and recognize ownership in the narrative of her life, which allowed her to turn personal power into major power.”
Nov. 15, 10:39 a.m. Updated with Skyler Samuels’ instagram post.
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