In a heartfelt clarification, singer-actress Teyana Taylor has addressed the online furore surrounding a viral exchange with Hollywood icon Julia Roberts at the 2024 Golden Globes, insisting fans misinterpreted the playful moment.
A Cherished Encounter Misunderstood
The incident occurred last Sunday night as Taylor, celebrating her first-ever Golden Globe nomination, met Roberts – a longtime hero of hers – for the first time on the red carpet. The emotional encounter, which saw Roberts hug Taylor and remark on her being 'teeny tiny', quickly spread online after Roberts was heard joking, 'You need to eat a sandwich.'
Addressing the resulting backlash on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon this Wednesday, Taylor set the record straight. 'I’ve seen people trying to get on her about that, and I was like, "Hold on,"' she explained. Taylor elaborated that Roberts made the comment because she couldn't find her waist, adding, 'She was like, "Girl, you need a sandwich." It was so cute.'
Taylor made it abundantly clear that Roberts' words did not offend her, describing the entire interaction as 'so amazing' and a moment she genuinely cherished. 'I just remember her parting the sea for me. She came through like Moses,' Taylor recalled. 'She was floating. It was so scary how perfectly she was floating. I just dived into her arms. It was just the cutest moment and I started crying.'
Fan Reaction and a Triumphant Win
The backlash emerged when some social media users suggested Roberts was body-shaming the star. One critic tweeted, 'Teyana Taylor Reacts to Julia Roberts Telling Her to ‘Eat a Sandwich’ - I love Julia, but she was outta pocket.' However, many other fans defended the exchange as a sweet and positive interaction between two admirers.
The evening proved monumental for Taylor, who went on to win the award for Best Supporting Actress, triumphing over nominees including Emily Blunt, Elle Fanning, Ariana Grande, and Amy Madigan. During her acceptance speech, she admitted she 'almost didn’t' prepare remarks, convinced she wouldn't win.
She credited filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson for the material in 'One Battle After Another, Perfidia Beverly Hills' that secured her the honour. Taylor also gave a shout-out to her two daughters, Iman 'Junie' Tayla Shumpert Jr., 10, and Rue Rose Shumpert, 5, who were watching from home, joking 'Y'all better be off those damn phones and watching me right now.'
A Message of Empowerment
Taylor concluded her speech with a powerful message for her 'Brown sisters and little Brown girls watching tonight.' 'Our softness is not a liability,' she stated. 'Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine. We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter and our dreams deserve space.'
Meanwhile, Julia Roberts, 58, was nominated for her role in 'After the Hunt' but lost to Jessie Buckley for 'Hamnet'. Roberts attended the ceremony with her husband of 24 years, Daniel Moder, enjoying the festivities at a table with friends George and Amal Clooney.
