“Wild ‘N Out’s” Nick Cannon and rapper Chris Brown just dropped the teaser for their latest project. We wish it was a track from two washed-out hip-hop artists, but God has other plans. That’s why we are now cursed with a female empowerment film from an unapologetic slut-shamer and a domestic abuser.
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Their film “She Ball” (horrible title) is a story of a young female athlete (a white woman), who defies stereotypes in and out of the court, with the help of a single father (played by Nick Cannon) trying to save their local streetball league. “‘She Ball’ is about community and the inclusive nature of controlling your own background,” says Cannon, who wrote, produced, and directed the film.
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Now, I honestly don’t know where to begin. It’s no surprise that this film already comes off as tone-deaf. Number one: What would a couple of sexist and abusive assholes know about the female struggle? And number two: There’s something quite off about two men of color talking about sexism inside the basketball court through a white woman’s eyes.
“It’s an action-packed movie that’s full of laughs, but at the end of the day it’s really just a great story about human connections,” Cannon explains in a press statement. “Birdman and I have been talking about doing movies together for so long, and it finally all came together on this project. Chris Brown, who is like family to me and such a visionary, is truly one of the most gifted and talented spirits to ever grace this planet!”
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No matter what Nick Cannon says, it’s a huge no for me (and perhaps other feminists out there). It’s so absurd that two people who are unapologetic about their sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, and overall problematic actions think it’s a good idea to make a film about the discrimination women go through.
Cannon used the “women are crazy” card for divorcing the living pop legend Mariah Carey. As for Chris Brown, he literally has a tattoo of a battered woman on his neck, ridiculed his rape accuser with a novelty shirt, and has physically assaulted women (including his ex Rihanna) in the past.
If anyone wants to watch a female-led sports film, try classics like “Love & Basketball,” “Bring It On,” or “Bend It Like Beckham.” It’s for the best you avoid “She Ball” when it hits the theaters this February 2020.
Still from “She Ball”
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