Looks like Teyana Taylor and boyfriend, NBA baller Iman Shumpert, are a little pissed off about some characters on FOX’s new hit TV series, Empire.
While speaking with Cleveland.com via Northeast Ohio Media Group recently, an annoyed Shumpert says, "I don’t watch that stuff," citing a jacking of characters for his reasoning.
"They're using my girl's character, her style, her look and she's not getting anything for it," Shumpert said on behalf of his girlfriend, singer-songwriter-dancer-actress Teyana Taylor. "They didn't even change her name. They could have at least let my girl audition for the part instead of stealing her character completely.
Shumpert is referring to character Tiana (played by actress Serayah McNeill), who is also an R&B singer on the show. Tiana is a new artist on the Empire roster and most of her music has been in collaboration with Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Y. Gray); the two also dated on the show.
One can uncannily see some similarities between Tiana and Taylor, and the puffed out, curly hair is a major indicator.
Shumpert, who is an aspiring rapper as well (Listen to “How to Hate”), also claims the show is harvesting his relationship for TV, citing Hakeem’s hairstyle as a basis to stand on.
He adds: "And come on man, they're really using a guy with a flat-top like me. Come on. That's ridiculous. They never called us. We were blindsided. We found out by our family and fans when the show aired."
Shumpert didn’t outright call the show’s producers thieves, but he remains a little suspicious.
"Her fans are more mad about it than I am," Shumpert says on behalf of Teyana. "I'm a ball player, but that's her field. That's what she does. Me personally, I don't plan on taking any action but I don't know about her."
We’re guessing Shump and Teyana has been having some real serious pillow talk.
Check out the below looks… is it jacking or coincidence?
Founder and Creator of Singersroom.com and IncredibleWork.com. Follow me on Instagram at @gary.gentles.
