Viola Davis Catches Shade Over Portrayal Of Michelle Obama "Duck Face"

BY Erika Marie 4.4K Views
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Viola Davis, Michelle Obama
The internet came with a vengeance after a clip of Showtime's "The First Lady" went viral.

An acclaimed actress poised to portray a former First Lady seems as if it would be a match made in heaven. Oscar-winner Viola Davis stars in Showtime's The First Lady where she tackles the role of Michelle Obama, and it isn't an easy feat. During a recent chat with Entertainment Weekly, Davis spoke about the pressure she felt while researching for the part.

"My first day was a scene where we arrived at the White House and we drove up and we walked in and there was me, Viola, in the back going, 'Holy s---' at just the shift and the change and the enormity of it all," said Davis. "It was a good introduction into Michelle and Barack's administration."


"It definitely is not like any other job, because we're playing iconic characters that people have ownership of, people know," she added. "I mean, with Michelle Obama anyway, they know how she talks, how she walks, how she wears her hair, the different incarnations of her eyebrows ... I didn't feel like I could approach it like any other character."

The First Lady premiered yesterday (April 17), and immediately, there were conversations about the "duck face" Davis was making. Clips of the series swept through social media and tens of thousands of posts—maybe more—were shared from one platform to the other. Check out the brief footage below and read through a few reactions.









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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.