Kenya Barris, the man behind the hit series Black-ish and Grown-ish, has cleared the air on whether or not he has an obsession with stories about people of mixed race.
Spoiler: he’s unapologetic about it.
You People, starring Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Nia Long, David Duchovny, and Lauren London, was just published on Netflix by the television and film producer.
The story follows Amira (London), whose budding romance with Ezra (Hill) is threatened by her introduction of him to her family, notably her controlling father Akbar (Murphy).
After the trailer for the film was published at the end of 2017, however, several viewers accused Barris, then 49 years old, of fetishizing interracial couples and characters of mixed race. This is because he has cast performers of mixed race in the major parts of several of his TV shows, including Black-ish, Mixed-ish, and Black AF.
Barris said, “I do, I truly do,” when asked if he had a “fixation” on these plots.

‘My career has been dedicated to us.’
Even before it was reported in 2021 that Barris would be remaking Cheaper By The Dozen with Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff in the major roles, criticism of his work was rising, with one individual tweeting, “Kenya Barris’ fascination with mixed people is odd as f**k.”
One commenter on the December release of the You Others teaser explained the reason why interracial couples still feel people are staring at them as they go about their daily lives: “Kenya Barris is why.” This guy just won’t stop harping on the same old argument.
Another weighed in: ‘If there’s a show or movie about a mixed race family, 9 times out of 10 Kenya Barris is somehow involved.’
Others, however, have come to his defence, noting that his personal experience as a member of a multiracial family serves as inspiration for some of his most celebrated works.
Someone who likes the programme on Netflix said, “Also, the show #BlackAFNetflix is based on Kenya Barris REAL life…” We have six children from our mixed-race marriage. Please don’t tell him how to tell HIS tale. If you don’t want to see HIS Black experience, don’t.
You People is available to watch on Netflix.