On April 29, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show for an interview that soon went viral. Known for her warm and friendly personality, Harris offered personal stories about her family life, particularly her role as stepmother, affectionately known as Momala.
However, it was one specific point in the interview that caught the internet’s attention: Barrymore claimed Harris could be Momala for the entire country.
During the interview, Harris shared about her family dynamic, namely her bond with her stepchildren, Cole and Ella Emhoff. Kamala Harris married second gentleman Doug Emhoff in 2014, and she has taken on her role as stepmother. “His word to me is ‘momala,'” Harris said. He told that his family prefers not to use the word step.
Harris also spoke about his relationship with Emhoff’s ex-wife, Kerstin Emhoff, saying, “It’s not fair to put them (children) in a situation where, intentionally or not, they’re exposed to awkward relationships as adults with each other.” “There is manipulation going on.” Harris said.
As Harris talked about her family, Barrymore changed the subject and made a comment that instantly went viral. Barrymore said, “It’s so nice to say that I keep thinking in my mind that we all need a mother.” Hinting that Harris could play a maternal role for the country, he said, “We need you to be the ‘Momla’ of the country.”
The moment elicited a variety of reactions from both the audience and the home audience. While some thought it was adorable, others felt embarrassed, with social media users describing what happened as humiliating. Despite conflicting reactions, the video clip quickly spread across platforms, sparking debate over the nature of Barrymore’s comments.
Zahra Hill, an MSNBC writer, was among those who criticized Drew Barrymore’s statement for its problematic overtones. Hill pointed out that referring to Harris as Momala evoked the historical stereotype of the mother image, which portrays black women as overly domestic and obedient.
Hill said that although Barrymore almost certainly did no harm, well-intentioned white women in 2024 should have done their homework on this point.
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