Comedy Central's First Black Female Host Talks Getting Internet Trolled

Outspoken comedian Franchesca Ramsey is returning to Comedy Central, but this time on her own terms. Yesterday, the network announced that an untitled late night comedy pilot will be executive produced and hosted by Ramsey as part of its 2017-2018 line-up of development shows. 

Well-known to the online community, Ramsey had been making her own hilarious YouTube videos, a mixture of song parodies, impersonations, and socially conscious comedy sketches, since 2006, but it wasn’t until she made “Shit White Girls Say…To Black Girls” and went viral, racking up 1.5 million views in just 24 hours, that Ramsey was really put on the map. The video has 11 million views to date, and it gave Ramsey the confidence to pursue entertainment full time. “Quitting my day job took a huge leap of faith, but I knew I wouldn't be able to pursue the opportunities I was most interested in with a 9-5.” We’re all better off for it. Since then the actress, video blogger, and writer has quickly become of the most exciting voices, in both comedy and social activism, of our time.

Ramsey spent time as a writer and contributor to "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," where her recurring segment #HashItOut was a stand out part of the Comedy Central show. In 2015 landed her a gig as the host of "Decoded," an MTV News web series that speaks to issues of race and culture. She also still creates original content on YouTube, both for her comedy channel @Chescaleigh and her lifestyle channel Chescalocs, which focuses more on beauty, natural hair care, and styling (the two channels have over 250k subscribers and 29 million views combined), and does speaking engagements at colleges, inspiring and educating (and cracking up) students around the country with her incisive wit and cutting intellect. In short, she’s killing it. But ‘twas not always so. In fact, just a few short years ago, Ramsey was considering giving up on entertainment altogether. “In 2014 my videos weren't doing very well and I had a hard time booking auditions, so I seriously considered abandoning entertainment and leaving NY,” she recalls. “Instead, I got a remote job writing for Upworthy and used that to supplement the few acting jobs I was able to pick up until things started to take off.”

Even now, as accomplished as she is, Ramsey still encounters more than her fair share of challenging moments. “Being a woman of color on the Internet is challenging, let alone being one that openly talks about racism and feminism. I deal with an intense amount of harassment, which at times can be discouraging, but is also a reminder of why these conversations are so important,” she says of the trolls who follow her every move. Ramsey credits her husband, her parents, and her audience for keeping her going when things get rocky. “I'm really fortunate to have people around the world that enjoy my content and continuously reach out to let me know that it's making an impact on their lives,” she says of her devoted fans. A self-described “gym rat,” Ramsey also works out five days a week at 7 am. “It’s when I really let go of everything and just focus on accomplishing whatever my trainer puts in front of me,” she says of her routine.

"BEING A WOMAN OF COLOR ON THE INTERNET IS CHALLENGING."

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Aside from her family and fans, Ramsey raves about her friend and mentor, Tracee Ellis Ross, as an ongoing source of influence and inspiration. “I'm incredibly inspired by her talent, work ethic and humility. She's given me tons of great advice over the years and most recently I got the chance to write for her when she hosted Black Girls Rock for BET,” Ramsey says of Ross, whom she met a few years ago through her YouTube channel. “She's incredibly gracious and a firm believer in supporting and uplifting other women which, is something I think is incredibly important.”

Another thing Ramsey (and we) think is incredibly important? Activism, and specifically, a commitment to intersectional feminism. “It's important to acknowledge our privilege and remember that there are all types of women from a variety of walks of life that face challenges that we do not,” Ramsey says. “If you're truly committed to advocating for women you have to be willing to stand up for all women regardless of race, sexuality, physical ability, religion, class or gender identity, not just ladies that look like you.” For her part, Ramsey is already making a big difference in the steering the current cultural conversation. As for her personal goals? “One day I'd like to be in a position to break and foster new talent,” she says. We have zero doubt that will happen, and probably much sooner than she thinks.

The original version of this article appeared on our site as part of Create & Cultivate 100. 

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Comedian Natasha Leggero Shares Her Top 3 Social Media Pet Peeves

“I remember when I moved to LA, I didn’t have a cell phone, I didn’t have a computer, I would check my email at the video store,” says comedian, writer, and actress Natasha Leggero. 

“As soon as Twitter came, I started Tweeting all my jokes. It's the great equalizer. But it meant I gave away all the ideas. Now the bigger problem is that people get offended really easily. There are a lot of people online that are looking to take you down at anything. For me it’s been very challenging, I almost prefer to write a TV show instead.” 

That show is “Another Period,” renewed for it’s 3rd season (coming this summer) on Comedy Central. It’s like if "Drunk History" met "Upstairs Downstairs" met "Barely Famous."

“I was sick of playing prostitutes...I felt like most parts I played I wasn’t wearing pants. I really wanted to do a show where women were in control,” the comedian shares. On the show Leggero plays Lillian Bellacourt, defined by her family’s wealth who cares about one thing: becoming super famous. Presumably harder in 1902 without a hashtag where the only viral was cholera. So where does that put Leggero in terms of social media 2017? For one, she recently shared her best tips Straight Talk Wireless. 

"I was sick of playing prostitutes. I wanted to do a show where women were in control." 

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Second, she’s happy to list off a couple pet peeves.

Pet peeve #1: People posting photos of themselves at the gym. "I know they’re really proud of themselves but it’s annoying and makes you feel bad. They’re in full hair and makeup having someone take their photo.” However, she's happy to concede: “Mariah Carey’s gym posts are always the best because she’s in high-heeled tennis shoes.” (Case in point: here and here and here.)  

Peeve #2: “I don’t think anyone has ever flown in a private jet and not done an Instagram photo shoot.” Adding, “Which by the way are very bad for the environment.” (Looking at you Leo.) 

Peeve #3: “Pics of food don’t even register anymore.” 

“It’s very hard to not annoy anyone,” Leggerro jokes, “and I feel hypocritical because of all my political posts." Scroll her Twitter and yes, it's pretty political. “With politics, people get mad. Anything anti-Trump and you all of the sudden get death threats-- it just doesn’t seem funny anymore. With the current admin every single person is a political comic, so I almost want to take a few steps back and come back in a couple of years." Don't actually expect her to take any breaks. In addition to "Another Period," Leggero and husband, fellow comedian Moshe Kasher, will hit the road this summer, continuing their "Honeymoon Tour" at Bonaroo, giving love advice and “fixing people’s relationships.” 

When asked if social media has made it easier for women in comedy, there's a bit of a shrug in her voice. “I would never want to carry around video camera all day and record everything I do. Everyone says, 'Oh standup, that’s the hardest thing in the world,' but for me it’s natural." She brings up YouTuber Cameron Dallas and his tour— "He doesn't perform," she laughs. "It’s an international tour where he meets people.” There’s no shade though. “Doing the road for 15 years is kinda hard… but what I’m doing is a different skill.”

While the world of comedy has been described as fairly cutthroat, for Leggero, it doesn’t feel competitive. And she's happy to love on fellow comedians and friends like Sarah Silverman, Tig Notaro, Maria Bamford and Chelsea Peretti. "Maria and Sarah were both pretty established when I started but they’ve both been super positive. It’s been fun to come up with everyone. If one person can’t do a job, the next person does it. Of course there is competition in a way, but I feel very lucky that I have a TV show and I’m able to hire my friends," she shares.  

“Bringing up other people with you is the idea,” she laughs. “Or at least the people you like.” 

For those who don’t have friends hiring on them shows, Leggero has this advice for those who want to get into comedy. “It’s kind of a bummer,” she shares, “but you simply have to start writing and performing. Even if you can write for three minutes and go to an open mic, it’s really about working. Most of my comedian friends were going up at least five times a week, sometimes more. Sometimes a couple of shows a night. You have to work your material and keeping trying and figure out why you are or aren’t getting laughs. Pay attention to what people are laughing at when you’re onstage. It takes a lot of careful study of yourself. From stage presence to mic technique to making sure your jokes aren’t super hacky. You have to immerse yourself. If you want to have a career in comedy, full immersion.”

So to review: support your friends, work super fn hard, and nix the gym selfies, unless of course,  you're Mariah.  

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