Issa Rae Reveals Why the SAG-AFTRA Strike Was 'Devastating' for Her

On the SAG-AFTRA strike:

“The strike was devastating. I’ve been building [a project] for five years and now it’s gone. On the [entertainment] business side, we lost some employees. That really, really sucks. But this industry is changing so much. For me it’s like, ‘Okay, but what now?’ I know that executives and networks aren’t going to be as receptive as they were to Black focused content. I’m not pivoting, but I’m just trying to be more strategic in terms of the stories that I tell and maximizing our impact.”

On her latest venture, Viarae, her Prosecco

“I started experimenting with cocktails made with prosecco—whiskey and prosecco, then vodka and prosecco—and people started drinking them..then I was like, ‘Well, I’m giving them this one basic version, and if they’re going to try it because of me, I want it to be from me.’ This [brand] is something that is of me that I love; that I have made.”

On being the guinea pig for her haircare line with her sister-in-law Hannah Diop:

“I am proud to be the guinea pig. My hair hasn’t fallen out yet, so it’s been good. My hair will fall out before anybody else’s hair falls out—that’s the promise.”