Halle Berry Praised for What She Did for Two Black Reporters at 'John Wick 3' Premiere

A clip shared by a Black journalist shows the actress accommodating her during her film's premiere after she and her fellow black journalist were given the brush off by the film's publicist.

At the premiere of her new film, Halle Berry made it clear she was there for Black journalists.

Halle made a bold statement on Thursday on the red carpet of the initial screening of “John Wick 3.” While many journalists were present to interview her and the rest of her co-stars, the actress made sure the only two black journalists in the pack weren’t left out.

PUBLICIST DISAPPOINTS

Reporter Emerald Marie of Where is the Buzz TV detailed how the A-list star went out of her way to accommodate her and her fellow Black reporter, Lamar Dawson.

“She looked at me and she looked at Lamar and she said, ‘I can’t skip my brother and my sister.’”

In a clip she uploaded on her Instagram, Emerald said they were previously turned down by the film’s publicist who claimed there was no more time for interviews. She even showed footage of the rejection.

“I was prepared all day,” Emerald said, expressing her disappointment. “I was super excited. Who doesn’t want to talk to Halle Berry?”

HALLE SAVES THE DAY

But to her surprise and delight, Halle spotted them and stopped in her tracks.

“She looked at me and she looked at Lamar and she said, ‘I can’t skip my brother and my sister.’”

At that point, Berry approached them and granted them an interview.

"I just felt like for her to turn around and give us that opportunity, I have a newfound respect for Halle Berry."

THE ACTRESS INSPIRES

For Emerald, Halle’s actions gained more respect from her and inspired her to push even harder to be recognized in the industry. She admitted feeling emotional at the time.

“I’m not gon’ lie, I don’t know why I got emotional and I still am but I take so much pride in being Black and being one of the only Black faces in so many places that I’m in and I just felt like for her to turn around and give us that opportunity, I have a newfound respect for Halle Berry."

JOURNALIST EMPOWERS

Strengthened by Halle's vote of confidence, Emerald has a message for her other counterparts in the industry.

“I just want to encourage every Black woman and male to continue to break barriers in all of these industries because our faces will be seen and our voices will be heard.”

Emerald has so much regard for Halle now. In her caption, she said Halle “fought for my voice.” This, she adds, “is just another reason why she is a Leader & Queen.”

"It doesn’t take a veteran to realize the Black press cluster at the end of red carpet lineups makes Black reporters susceptible to the brush-by of celebs and publicists..."

WRITER SHEDS LIGHT

In June 2018, writer Keyeira Kelly wrote about the struggle of Black journalists to be recognized in the industry. In her article for Hello Beautiful titled “How Black Hollywood is Failing the Black Press,” she details how Black journalists are placed at the end of the line of predominantly White journalists so when it’s their turn to interview the celebrities, there’s not enough time. She writes,

“It doesn’t take a veteran to realize the Black press cluster at the end of red carpet lineups makes Black reporters susceptible to the brush-by of celebs and publicists who politely quip, “sorry, ran out of time” as they scurry out of view.”

HALLE CLAPS BACK

Luckily, there are celebrities like Halle who champion for the Black community, herself included. Last year, she clapped back at a White man after he randomly accused her of sexually assaulting him at a party. Not one to allow anyone to trample on her, she responded to the man’s allegations on Instagram by denying his claims and telling him to stay out of her page. The man whose profile was previously public switched it to private and Halle never heard from him again.