It’s been a busy 2019 for YouTube star Lilly “Superwoman” Singh. In February, she came out as bisexual on Instagram and last night NBC announced that she’ll be taking over for Carson Daly in their 1:35 a.m. slot with a new series called A Little Late with Lilly Singh. That makes her the only woman, the only queer person, and the only person of color to currently host a late night show on broadcast network TV. It’s a big forkin’ deal! NBC has already branded her their “late night comedy queen.”
The show will follow the traditional late night model of in-studio interviews and pre-taped comedy segments, plus some “signature elements.”
Singh rose to internet stardom on YouTube starting in 2010 when she created her channel, IISuperwomanII. Her first video had 70 views and she now has 14.5 million followers. Forbes named her to their list of top 10 highest paid YouTube stars in 2017, estimating that she made $10.5 million that year. Singh has also received a variety of accolades for her channel, including Streamys, People’s Choice Awards, MTV Fandom Awards, and Teen Choice Awards. She’s also starred in a couple of music videos, most notably with Maroon 5 and Cardi B in last year’s “Girls Like You.”
Doug Vaughan, NBC’s executive vice president of special programs and late night told Variety, “Lilly is truly a star and we’re thrilled to welcome her to our NBC family. She is a multi-talented performer who will surely have a great rapport with not only all her guests but also with our devoted late-night audience. We can’t wait to get started.”
Singh stopped by Fallon last night to make the announcement in person.
Several of your faves are also very excited!
GO OFF QUEEN! CONGRATS!!!!
— Kehlani (@Kehlani) March 15, 2019
INCREDIBLE NEWS!!! Congrats to @IISuperwomanII !!! https://t.co/E0FYTlJEeu
— Tegan and Sara (@teganandsara) March 15, 2019
Calling @IISuperwomanII a YouTuber is like calling Ariana Grande a Nikelodeoner. She transcended long ago. 🙌🏽 https://t.co/H2RlgFUaqo
— janina gavankar (@Janina) March 15, 2019
HOLY THIS IS AMAZING! Congrats @IISuperwomanII paving the way and slaying all day! 😭💕 https://t.co/kU3KP8Q7yi
— Natasha Negovanlis (@natvanlis) March 15, 2019
Happy 20BiTeen, everyone!
…I wish I were more excited about this as a queer South Asian. Instead, I’m bracing myself for more of this: https://wearyourvoicemag.com/race/can-brown-anti-black-lilly-singh-modern-day-blackface
Here’s another good article about how Singh can be disrespectful to Carribean (and Indo-Carribean) cultures specifically: https://www.acolourdeep.ca/blog/politics-brown-mutuality-reflections-lilly-singh-cultural-appropriation-and-queer-amnesia
Thank you for speaking up and sharing these links!
@livethequestion My exact feelings! My little sister loves her and I wish I could be excited about her having a desi role model but Lilly makes me cringe so much. I really resonated with this quote about her depiction of from the second article you linked:
“Even if this is truly what our parents are like, is it acceptable to use their likeness for comedy? Is it acceptable to make the world laugh at them while we benefit from not acting like them at all so that we can schmooze with white people and get ahead?”
On top of that, I am really trying to be generous and have (imo well-earned) faith that coverage of the Christchurch attacks is coming and that it is not out yet bc AS is taking the time to get it right, but damn does it hurt that this is the coverage on South Asians that came out more quickly from last night.
“On top of that, I am really trying to be generous and have (imo well-earned) faith that coverage of the Christchurch attacks is coming and that it is not out yet bc AS is taking the time to get it right, but damn does it hurt that this is the coverage on South Asians that came out more quickly from last night.”
I hear you, and I think they are taking their time to get it right. With you at this difficult time. <3
<3
it is coming, yes.
Thank you for offering that reassurance, Riese. I’ve just read Creatrix Tiara’s piece and as expected in was exactly what I need in this moment. It speaks volumes to the work you and the team have done over the past 10 years that Autostraddle is the site that I have been continually refreshing since the news broke to help me articulate this complicated pain and feel less alone. Thank you also for your article “On This Tragic Shabbat,” whose rereading provided much comfort as I waited. May all our dead’s memory be a blessing.
This is a super-neat move from NBC. Can picking up ODAAT be far behind LOL