‘The L.A. Complex’ Actor Andra Fuller Speaks Out About Playing A Black Downlow Rapper On TV
When it comes to seeing black gay characters, networks fail to show a variety of characters without polarizing stereotypes. Last week we highlighted the fact that there were not many black gay couples on television. A show that came up repeatedly in discussions was CW’s latest project The L.A. Complex.
Writer Shydel James from Black Enterprise did a beautiful write up with one of the show’s leading actors Andra Fuller. Fuller plays Kaldrick King on L.A. Complex. He’s the closeted ‘gangsta’ rapper involved in a downlow relationship with Tariq. Even outside of the storyline, the show is full of new relationships, salacious temptations and make-it-or-break it decisions characters must face.
On his family and friends reactions to him playing a gay character on network TV…
“When I accepted this role and what it entailed, my family and friends were like, ‘Why do you want to play a gay dude?’ They also wanted to know why every time a Black man is shown on TV as gay; he has to be on the down low. But they didn’t look at the ramification: I’m playing a very successful down low rapper on a network television show. That’s never happened before.”
On why he accepted the role…
“As an actor, you don’t run away from a role because it doesn’t coexist with your personal lifestyle,” he explains. “If I take a role as a mass murderer, I don’t think I would ever have the gall to kill someone in my real life. But I’m not going to run away from it because I don’t believe in murder.”
On the support from the LGBT community…
“The gay and lesbian community has been super-supportive, very gracious and appreciative of what I’ve been putting into Kaldrick,” says Fuller. “It’s definitely an honor to be chosen to play this character in this storyline. I try my damndest every day I step on set to do it justice.”
