Viola Davis Fires Back after She’s Slammed for Michelle Obama Portrayal

Brett SmithApril 27, 2022

Last week, we reported that the Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis was being slammed for her portrayal of Michelle Obama on the Showtime original series “The First Lady.” Now, Davis is firing back at the “cruel” criticisms, which she says have been “incredibly hurtful.”

I love Viola Davis but they gotta shut this whole thing down! This is supposed to be Michelle Obama? pic.twitter.com/ZGYitBPUu8

— Fuckie Chinster (@DailyBruise2) April 20, 2022

Backstory: Viola Davis Roasted For ‘Duck Face’ Portrayal Of Michelle Obama In ‘The First Lady’

Davis Sounds Off

Davis told the BBC that while critiques are an “occupational hazard” of acting, she also finds it to be “incredibly hurtful when people say negative things about your work.”

“How do you move on from the hurt, from failure?” she questioned. “But you have to. Not everything is going to be an awards-worthy performance. But ultimately I feel like it is my job as a leader to make bold choices. Win or fail it is my duty to do that.”

Davis went on to slam professional reviewers, saying that critics “serve absolutely no purpose.”

“They always feel like they’re telling you something that you don’t know,” the 56 year-old star continued. “Somehow that you’re living a life that you’re surrounded by people who lie to you, and ‘I’m going to be the person that leans in and tells you the truth.’ So it gives them an opportunity to be cruel to you.”

Davis then said that playing someone as famous and beloved as Obama is “almost impossible.”

“Either you’re doing too much or not enough,” she said. “People know how they walk, how they talk and how they hold their pearls, so it’s very difficult.”

Davis Ruthlessly Mocked

Daily Mail reported that this came after Davis was ruthlessly mocked for her portrayal of Obama, with social media users saying that she was constantly making a duck face in the show.

“The director that made Viola Davis do that duck face may need to serve time,” one social media user commented, with another adding, “I love Viola Davis but the entire team of people behind all of this should get fired.”

“Why didn’t anybody stop you?” a third user wrote. “Why could they not even give you an actual make up artist? How will you ever face Michelle Obama after this?”

New look at Viola Davis as Michelle Obama in Showtime’s ‘The First Lady.’ pic.twitter.com/YNwFTGcM45

— Pop Base (@PopBase) April 16, 2022

Davis ‘Hiding From Michelle’ Obama

Davis had previously admitted that playing Obama made her nervous.

“I’m glad it’s over!” she said before the show premiered. “I mean, the stress… Because everybody likes – loves – Michelle Obama. They know what she sounds like, they know what she looks like. And I’m like, ‘I don’t want Michelle Obama calling me, cussing me out.’”

When asked if she had reached out to Obama about the role, Davis replied, “I am hiding from Michelle. I’m hiding. I’m hiding in my house. I’m not sending her nothing. That’s the kind of thing where you have to prostate yourself on the floor and just go, ‘OK, Michelle, I messed up.’”

Unfortunately for Davis, it seems that that’s exactly what she’ll be doing, should she ever run into Obama somewhere.