Joan Fuller PhotographyComedian Loni Love, one of the co-hosts on the nationally syndicated daytime talk show The Real, is opening up about the latest addition to the Emmy Award-winning show’s panel: Amanda Seales.
In January, Seales officially became the newest member of the daytime talk panel, taking over the fifth co-host spot that was previously filled by Tamar Braxton, who was fired in 2016 after two seasons.
Loni tells ABC Audio that neither she nor the other co-hosts– which include Adrienne Houghton, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley— had any say in Seales getting the job.
“Well, the thing is that the studio makes all the decisions for casting. We were on break and we were told, ‘Hey, we picked Amanda Seales as a permanent.’ And so, we accepted that,” Loni recalls. “I mean, that is the decision that the actual studio wants to make.”
Even though it wasn’t their decision, Love says she was totally on board with the casting.
“I agree with it, because of the fact that we need all the diverse voices that we can get,” she says. “Amanda is a very diverse, fresh voice that we need…she leans a lot more into the culture than the rest of us. And, it’s something new. It’s something that they wanted. And that’s something that I support.”
Love also explains that as an industry vet, she understands that most decisions will be made by those above her.
“So, that’s what you do when you have a show,” Loni says. “The studio makes the decisions, and we support it. And Amanda’s fitting in just fine.”
“This is a huge platform for her,” she continues. “I’m happy for anybody that gets an opportunity like this. And I try to help them as much as I can.”
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