Marsai Martin minds her “young, rich, Black business.” She is not worried about think pieces on social media–though there were plenty of opinions spilled about her spotlight in Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Vol. 4 show.
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The Genius Productions founder stopped by Ebro In The Morning with Kelly Rowland on a press run for Fantasy Football. The upcoming film is another win for Marsai’s production and actor resumes. Marsai plays Callie Coleman, daughter of Keisha Coleman (Kelly) and Bobby Coleman (Omari Hardwick). Her character learns she can magically control her father’s movements on the NFL field.
At one point in the interview, the hosts pointed out the viral conversation about the 18-year-old modeling a printed bodysuit from Rih’s activewear collection. Marsai gave the moment a lackluster “really” and then said, “I don’t really care,” before explaining why.
“To be honest, like all of us, we’re just minding our young, rich, and Black business,” Marsai said. “Outside opinions don’t really matter to me when I know my path, and I know my opportunities and what I’m capable of. And I know I would never put myself in a situation for failure, for any exposure of any kind.”
Like her new movie, Marsai says she has parents in real-life that have her back–evidenced by how she’s won her way through the entertainment industry since five-years-old.
“I’ve given nothing but grace in any of this. I have amazing parents that are by my side always and protecting me always,” Marsai said.
Marsai Understands The Viral Talks But Says, “That’s Just What Happens”
Folks were all over the map about Marsai’s transition from child star to young adult bada**. And though Marsai says she “would expect” the reactions, she insists this is just another part of life.
“You expect watching somebody grow, you have some type of protection over them. Like you need to protect them from something, but at this point, people are just watching me grow, and that’s gon be that,” Marsai said. “Like how they gon act when I start growing up and having kids and getting married?”
As for working in Rihanna’s world, Marsai says the experience was “great, lots of fun” with “crazy” work hours. She revealed that she got to set at 7:30 p.m. and didn’t get back home until 8 a.m the next day.
At one point in the interview, she spoke about what keeps her going and creating. The most important thing, she says, is “just having fun.”
“My parents always tell me, when it becomes not fun for you anymore, you can stop. You are young, you can go to different places,” Martin said. “You can go to college right now. You can find different things to do. You don’t have to do this if it’s not fun for you anymore if it doesn’t make you happy.”
Still, Marsai likes her path. Any feelings of having missed out don’t seem to linger with the star. She says, at this point in her young career, she can create whatever experiences she desires. And that is a privilege she appreciates.
“I’m very grateful in the space that I’m in, I’m grateful for..even though I grew up with adults more than actual kids, I believe that that was just my path, and it just shaped me to be the person that I am today,” Marsai said. “I think at this point, I am glad to be able to have the opportunity to make my own stuff in that way. Like if I want a prom, I can make a prom, or like I can create a prom.”
The world is Marsai’s oyster–lingerie and activewear fashion shows included.
