Miss Issa Rae is the genius behind HBO's Insecure and despite the show's mega success, she's still in fear of failing. The 33-year-old jack of all trades linked up with GQ Magazine for a feature that sees her dressing up as popular 90's TV characters like Urkel, Moesha and The Fresh Prince. While getting interviewed by the publication, she references the star behind Fresh Prince, Will Smith, when talking about his advice that everyone has to experience failure.
With season three of Insecure coming in August, Issa questions if it will be her shit moment. "This could be the worst season we've ever had. And then what? Then people are all of a sudden like, 'Oh, okay.' Then the calls stop. It's like stand-up comedy: In order to eventually succeed, you have to bomb. That's what every comedian says—that's when the fear goes away," she said. "And I feel like I'm still fearful because I haven't publicly bombed yet, in terms of my career. Yeah, Insecure is successful now, but where's my bomb coming? Where are my Will Smith bombs coming? Where, where is that happening?"
Like every person on the planet, you have highs and lows and Issa references Will's low moments in relation to her own life. "He went through a period when he was depressed, when three or four of his movies in a row weren't number one at the box office. So for him that was terrible. And now he's talking about, 'You gotta fail, you gotta fail,'" she said. “And I don't want to make Instagram speeches about failing. I don't."
Sorry Issa, but you gotta feel the lows to really appreciate the highs. Season three of Insecure premieres on HBO on August 12th.