Michael Ealy Has Pissed Me Off....!

Khatira Rafiqzada & Michael Ealy

Life is full of ups, downs, twists and turns: some surprising, some shocking, some irritating and others simply insulting. It is absolutely important to respect the private lives of others regardless of their profession: the famous and not so famous; the rich and not so rich; the highly reputable and lowly notorious, etc. One  also understands that in order for an Artist(e) to nurture and flourish, his/her space has must be cherished. 

Black actors have not always had it easy: Michael is certainly a case in point as he did not achieve his worldwide breakthrough and breakout on his personality and looks but rather on his special gift nourished and sharpened further through acting classes while waiting tables. Despite that the offers did not immediately come rolling it..... there would have been an acceleration of great roles had he been white AND he would have been "People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive" yonks ago! - yes I said it. Africans/African Americans have always supported and rooted for their own (Barbershop, Their Eyes Were Watching God -  nothing but the best for our Michael. His most recent film "Think Like a Man" meant promotions at black colleges, black radio stations, black talk shows, black magazines, black blogs .... 

So apparently Khatira and Michael have been together for four years, yet we were led to believe that he did not have a girlfriend, was not in a relationship and was very single. When asked while conducting promotional work for Think Like a Man, Unconditional and his Common Law TV series, he continued to pass himself off as such. Premieres and red carpets? Khatira was never by his side....no where to be seen. Over the past couple of days we learnt in the most silliest of manners that "very private Michael married his long term girlfriend in early October and is only revealing the news to his fans now because he wanted to enjoy his time as a newly wed with his wife privately." Excuse me but .... who cares? Why the fuss, why so surreptitious, why frugal with the facts? You either want us (your viewing/paying public/fans) to know about your life or you don't....what nonsense! Is there anybody out there who would have prevented him from enjoying time with his Mrs. Ealy privately, seriously?!

I like Mr. Ealy, he is intelligent, charming, amiable and interviews enormously well. It is for all these reasons that I am utterly pissed off with him. I simply refuse to make excuses on his behalf by enabling him with a free pass! So what on earth is the big deal here? Since when did it require rocket science intelligence to comprehend that girlfriends, relationships and marriage are all perfectly normal and natural in a man's world and vice versa? Mr. Ealy's conduct was completely unnecessary, uncalled for and all much ado about nothing! Words like conceit and its opposite beginning with a capital D quickly come to mind as I can not for the life of me understand why we have been subjected to this level of convoluted hogwash from one who I (and uncountable others) have always regarded as articulate, humble, thoughtful, precious and so dear.   

Michael turns 40 next year....if there was ever a time to change his current Marketing/PR machinery, it is now. I celebrate a birthday tomorrow and do so with great gratitude to God Almighty....a year older, a year wiser, and a year spiritually wealthier. What I know for certain is that life is to be enjoyed and lived to the fullest. Going forward, I pray Michael continues to call to remembrance that it was entirely his decision to become an Actor. As a member of his viewing/paying fan base I sincerely appreciate his professional artistic portfolio as I do long term married actors like Sidney Poitier, James Earl Jones, Denzel Washington, Tony Shalhoub, Forest Whitaker, Matt Damon, Cuba Gooding Jr, Will Smith, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Bryan Cranston, etc, who have all navigated theirs successfully. Absolutely, Mr. Michael Ealy is an outstanding Actor but I do feel it is time to remind him that such a Calling demands almost impeccable conduct. Sincerely speaking, it is all about the ART - nothing more, nothing less; anything else detracts from his true artistic purpose, creativity and gift.

God's joy, love, and blessings to Khatira and Michael. Congratulations to the very beautiful Mr. & Mrs. Ealy :) xo