STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Donald Glover Responds To The Reception Of 'This Is America' Video

His explanation may not be what you'd expect.

Perhaps almost as brilliant as Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” video is his response to those wanting more of an explanation about it.

  • Since the video’s release, Gambino, otherwise known as Donald Glover, has been doing a press run for his new film Solo: A Star Wars Story. It’s opened him up to questioning about the unrelated viral music video to which he’s responding, “That’s not for me to say.”

    That’s what he told TMZ recently. It’s also what he told Chris Van Vliet of WSVN-TV when he sat down with Glover and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

  • “I feel like it’s not my place,” he responded when asked. “It just doesn’t feel right or good to me, I feel like it doesn’t feel right to anyone. I made this for the people, just like Star Wars, you can walk away from the movie with whatever you need to walk away with it from.”

    His non-explanation so far seems to be going over well on social media who agree: the interpretation is open to the eye of the beholder.

  • Also interesting, was Donald Glover’s response during a separate interview with Global Grind’s Xilla Valentine. When the topic of loving someone different came up (stemming from his character Lando Calrissian’s relationship with L3-37, played by Bridge) Glover’s response was brilliant.

  • “That’s what love I think really is at the end of the day,” he said. “It’s not even like a selflessness, it’s like an understanding that I’m making a safe place for you. It’s not safe out there. Somebody’s out to get you—that’s just nature. That’s just the nature of being, and I feel like yeah you can totally love somebody and still look out for yourself. But I think the question really is, do you see that thing or that someone else as a part of you? If you see us, we’re a people together, we’re a tribe together—we depend on each other. Then you always are gonna want the best for them I think.”

    While not a direct response to controversial criticism DG’s received over dating a white woman, we’re pretty sure that was on his mind when giving his answer.

    Beautifully put, Gambino.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.