Should you be avoiding the expression “caught red-handed?” Thursday’s episode of “Atlanta” on FX posed the question, where does that phrase actually come from? And could it be racist?
The episode titled “Money Bag Shawty” has Ern (Donald Glover) trying to spend a $100 bill in style. A white clerk at a movie theater tells him she can’t accept it, but then accepts a $100 from a white man behind him in line. After they’ve left, Ern sees it for what it is — blatantly racist and says he “caught her red-handed.”
But Van (Zazie Beetz) stops him, saying the expression itself is racist and refers to Native American thieves. Van is teasing, but they suddenly start to wonder if the phrase’s racist origins they thought was a joke might actually be true. It sounds plausible, and the gag makes a clever observation about how we’ve come to realize that so many colloquial expressions have offensive undertones. But the show cuts away before they take the time to look it up.
So just where does “caught red-handed” come from? It’s actually not racist, or it at least isn’t related to Native Americans. “Red-handed” has its roots in 15th Century Scotland, and it literally refers to being caught with blood on your hands after a crime.
The first recorded instance of someone referring as having a “red hand” comes from “The Scottish Acts of Parliament of James I” in 1432:
That the offender be taken reid hand, may be persewed, and put to the knawledge of ane Assise, befoir the Barron or Landeslord of the land or ground, quhidder the offender be his tennent, unto quhom the wrang is done or not… And uthers not taken reid hand…
To be more specific, “red-handed” can be found in Sir Walter Scott’s “Ivanhoe” from 1820:
“I did but tie one fellow, who was taken redhanded and in the fact, to the horns of a wild stag.”
There you have it — Ern and Van can sleep easy on that one!
Inside Donald Glover's 'Atlanta' Season 2 Red Carpet Premiere (Photos)
Fear not: This is a spoiler-free trip inside the "Atlanta: Robbin' Season" red carpet premiere, not an episode recap.
We last saw Donald Glover's lead character "Earn" going to bed in a storage locker. When that final image from "Atlanta" season one's final episode first aired, the 2016 presidential election was still a week away.
A lot can change in 475 days.
Since then: Glover's "Redbone" became an international anthem. He's played the Grammys -- and played Lando Calrissian in the "Star Wars" universe. Co-star Lakeith Stanfield has been on an Oscar campaign with Jordan Peele's "Get Out." Brian Tyree Henry is bound for Broadway in a Kenneth Longergan play.
(Mikey Glazer)
"Atlanta" won two Emmys (for acting and directing), two Golden Globes (for acting and producing), a prestigious AFI Award as one of the 10 best shows of the year, and two Critics Choice Awards.
Industry peers recognized Glover, director Hiro Murai, and producers Stephen Glover, Paul Simms and Dianne McGunigle with awards from the DGA, PGA and WGA.
"That's crazy," FX CEO John Landgraf said of the show's awards tally at a kickoff party on Monday for the premiere of the show's second season, dubbed "Robbin' Season."
Donald Glover and John Landgraf (Frank Micellotta/FX/PictureGroup)
FX and FX Studios Communications Chief John Solberg added one more superlative: "I want to thank Stephen Glover for putting together the best pre-screening playlist in the history of FX," he said. (The pre-screening playlist was pretty solid.)
"It's really cool to be ending Black History month this way," Donald Glover told the crowd at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel. "Shout out to Ryan [Coogler] and Ava [DuVernay] and all the people doing good work right now. I'm really proud to give you guys this and we really appreciate this."
"I want to thank Stephen Glover for putting together the best pre-screening playlist in the history of FX," FX's John Solberg said to open the evening. (Mikey Glazer)
The "guys" on the receiving end of "this" -- a sneak peek of the first two episodes -- included some famous fans and friends of the show without any professional affiliation. While celebs used to show up at each other's premieres all the time, it's now a rare sign of true industry credibility and support.
The Party Report spotted actual Atlanta music royalty, Usher, slipping down the blue-hued carpet in sunglasses and a black leather jacket.
Lena Waithe, who recently premiered Showtime's "The Chi" about her home city, arrived holding hands with a date.
Mikey Glazer
Fellow FX visionary Pamela Adlon, whose "Better Things" is coming back for a third season, made plans to meet up with friends at the after party at Clifton's Cafeteria.
Meanwhile, Sterling K. Brown, who worked with Brian Tyree Henry on "This Is Us," lurked near the red carpet's barricades with a handler. Brown hid in a hoodie but also shouted to pals walking the carpet under the barrage of flash bulbs.
Peter Rice, Nick Grad, Eric Schrier and Brad Simpson. (Frank Micelotta/FX/PictureGroup)
"Robbin' Season" has nothing to do with Batman's sidekick or a new rapper on the scene, and everything to do with Georgia Penal Code § 16-8-41, "Armed Robbery by Intimidation" -- and the end-of-year holiday period when people are flush with gifts and cash.
"People just have more stuff, money," Stephen Glover, brother of Donald and a writer on the show, explained to TheWrap's Tony Maglio at last month's Television Critics Association panel. "And people need money. It's just a time that robberies go up -- all kinds. It's just like a very kind of tense and desperate time."
Zazie Beets and Lakeith Stanfield, who took off his mask periodically. (Frank Micelotta/FX/PictureGroup)
For FX, the times are anything but desperate.
"Donald epitomizes everything we champion at FX Networks in terms of artistic integrity, originality, creative excellence, and fearlessness," Landgraf concluded.
After the episodes, buses rolled north up Broadway to Clifton's where guests snacked on salmon and flank steak, flash-frozen boozy ice cream, and DJ Smiles Davis spun in the multi-story space. They told her to play it loud.
"Happy to give it to 'em," she posted on Instagram.
"Atlanta Robbin Season" premiers on FX on Thursday, March 1, at 10 p.m. ET.
Meet the All-Star 'The Lion King' Cast Led by Beyoncé and Donald Glover (Photos)
Like Rafiki brandishing the newborn Simba on top of Pride Rock, Disney on Wednesday unveiled the full cast of Jon Favreau's live-action remake of their 1994 classic "The Lion King." The new version coming in 2019 boasts an impressive cast to replace the original's iconic voice actors. Let's meet them.
Getty Images/Disney
Donald Glover as Simba
Oh, we just can't wait for Donald Glover to be King. Being Lando Calrissian isn't enough, he has to fill in for Matthew Broderick as Simba too.
Getty Images/Disney
Beyonce as Nala
The Queen B is now the Queen of the Jungle, suggesting that the role of Nala is likely larger than in the original and might even include some new songs.
Getty Images/Disney
James Earl Jones as Mufasa
Some casting is too perfect to touch. We're excited for the new cast, but there's no replacing James Earl Jones.
Getty Images/Disney
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar
Jeremy Irons was perfectly menacing as Scar in the original, but Ejiofor doesn't usually get to play the villain. Be prepared!
Getty Images/Disney
Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
Woodard, who plays Simba's mother Sarabi, starred with Ejiofor in "12 Years a Slave" and has recently worked on Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" and "Luke Cage."
Getty Images/Disney
John Oliver as Zazu
We love Oliver's neurotic lectures on "Last Week Tonight," so he's a smart pick for Zazu, the ever irritated guardian for Simba. Rowan Atkinson voiced Zazu in the original.
Getty Images/Disney
John Kani as Rafiki
Like Rafiki, Kani is a veteran wise beyond his years. But new audiences will come to know him as King T'Chaka in "Black Panther."
Getty Images/Disney
Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner as Pumbaa and Timon
It means no worries with these two voicing the beloved warthog and meerkat. Ernie Sabella and Nathan Lane voiced the characters in the original film.
Getty Images/Disney
Florence Kasumba as Shenzi
Kasumba is best known for her work on "Emerald City" and will also be in "Black Panther." Whoopi Goldberg played hyena leader Shenzi in the original.
NBC/Disney
Eric André as Azizi
André plays another one of the trio of hyenas, but this time with a new name, "Azizi." We can perfectly see his irreverent, screwball persona matching what Jim Cummings did with "Ed" or Cheech Marin did with Banzai.
Getty Images/Disney
Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari
Another new hyena. Maybe the "Key & Peele" star can bust out his Obama Anger Translator voice when he's saying, "Who's the pig?"
Getty Images/Disney
JD McCrary as Young Simba
McCrary actually appeared on an episode of "The Eric André Show," as well as Tyler Perry's show "The Paynes."
Twitter/Disney
Shahadi Wright Joseph as Young Nala
Wright Joseph made her breakout role as part of the cast of "Hairspray Live!" and was even on Broadway for the stage production of "The Lion King."
Getty Images/Disney
1 of 14
Jon Favreau is directing the movie, which arrives on July 19, 2019
Like Rafiki brandishing the newborn Simba on top of Pride Rock, Disney on Wednesday unveiled the full cast of Jon Favreau's live-action remake of their 1994 classic "The Lion King." The new version coming in 2019 boasts an impressive cast to replace the original's iconic voice actors. Let's meet them.
Usher, Sterling K. Brown, Lena Waithe and a packed Ace Hotel Theatre help FX close a fifteen-month hiatus and open “Robbin Season”
Fear not: This is a spoiler-free trip inside the "Atlanta: Robbin' Season" red carpet premiere, not an episode recap.
We last saw Donald Glover's lead character "Earn" going to bed in a storage locker. When that final image from "Atlanta" season one's final episode first aired, the 2016 presidential election was still a week away.
A lot can change in 475 days.
Since then: Glover's "Redbone" became an international anthem. He's played the Grammys -- and played Lando Calrissian in the "Star Wars" universe. Co-star Lakeith Stanfield has been on an Oscar campaign with Jordan Peele's "Get Out." Brian Tyree Henry is bound for Broadway in a Kenneth Longergan play.
(Mikey Glazer)
"Atlanta" won two Emmys (for acting and directing), two Golden Globes (for acting and producing), a prestigious AFI Award as one of the 10 best shows of the year, and two Critics Choice Awards.
Industry peers recognized Glover, director Hiro Murai, and producers Stephen Glover, Paul Simms and Dianne McGunigle with awards from the DGA, PGA and WGA.
"That's crazy," FX CEO John Landgraf said of the show's awards tally at a kickoff party on Monday for the premiere of the show's second season, dubbed "Robbin' Season."
Donald Glover and John Landgraf (Frank Micellotta/FX/PictureGroup)
FX and FX Studios Communications Chief John Solberg added one more superlative: "I want to thank Stephen Glover for putting together the best pre-screening playlist in the history of FX," he said. (The pre-screening playlist was pretty solid.)
"It's really cool to be ending Black History month this way," Donald Glover told the crowd at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel. "Shout out to Ryan [Coogler] and Ava [DuVernay] and all the people doing good work right now. I'm really proud to give you guys this and we really appreciate this."
"I want to thank Stephen Glover for putting together the best pre-screening playlist in the history of FX," FX's John Solberg said to open the evening. (Mikey Glazer)
The "guys" on the receiving end of "this" -- a sneak peek of the first two episodes -- included some famous fans and friends of the show without any professional affiliation. While celebs used to show up at each other's premieres all the time, it's now a rare sign of true industry credibility and support.
The Party Report spotted actual Atlanta music royalty, Usher, slipping down the blue-hued carpet in sunglasses and a black leather jacket.
Lena Waithe, who recently premiered Showtime's "The Chi" about her home city, arrived holding hands with a date.
Mikey Glazer
Fellow FX visionary Pamela Adlon, whose "Better Things" is coming back for a third season, made plans to meet up with friends at the after party at Clifton's Cafeteria.
Meanwhile, Sterling K. Brown, who worked with Brian Tyree Henry on "This Is Us," lurked near the red carpet's barricades with a handler. Brown hid in a hoodie but also shouted to pals walking the carpet under the barrage of flash bulbs.
Peter Rice, Nick Grad, Eric Schrier and Brad Simpson. (Frank Micelotta/FX/PictureGroup)
"Robbin' Season" has nothing to do with Batman's sidekick or a new rapper on the scene, and everything to do with Georgia Penal Code § 16-8-41, "Armed Robbery by Intimidation" -- and the end-of-year holiday period when people are flush with gifts and cash.
"People just have more stuff, money," Stephen Glover, brother of Donald and a writer on the show, explained to TheWrap's Tony Maglio at last month's Television Critics Association panel. "And people need money. It's just a time that robberies go up -- all kinds. It's just like a very kind of tense and desperate time."
Zazie Beets and Lakeith Stanfield, who took off his mask periodically. (Frank Micelotta/FX/PictureGroup)
For FX, the times are anything but desperate.
"Donald epitomizes everything we champion at FX Networks in terms of artistic integrity, originality, creative excellence, and fearlessness," Landgraf concluded.
After the episodes, buses rolled north up Broadway to Clifton's where guests snacked on salmon and flank steak, flash-frozen boozy ice cream, and DJ Smiles Davis spun in the multi-story space. They told her to play it loud.
"Happy to give it to 'em," she posted on Instagram.
"Atlanta Robbin Season" premiers on FX on Thursday, March 1, at 10 p.m. ET.
Meet the All-Star 'The Lion King' Cast Led by Beyoncé and Donald Glover (Photos)
Like Rafiki brandishing the newborn Simba on top of Pride Rock, Disney on Wednesday unveiled the full cast of Jon Favreau's live-action remake of their 1994 classic "The Lion King." The new version coming in 2019 boasts an impressive cast to replace the original's iconic voice actors. Let's meet them.
Getty Images/Disney
Donald Glover as Simba
Oh, we just can't wait for Donald Glover to be King. Being Lando Calrissian isn't enough, he has to fill in for Matthew Broderick as Simba too.
Getty Images/Disney
Beyonce as Nala
The Queen B is now the Queen of the Jungle, suggesting that the role of Nala is likely larger than in the original and might even include some new songs.
Getty Images/Disney
James Earl Jones as Mufasa
Some casting is too perfect to touch. We're excited for the new cast, but there's no replacing James Earl Jones.
Getty Images/Disney
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar
Jeremy Irons was perfectly menacing as Scar in the original, but Ejiofor doesn't usually get to play the villain. Be prepared!
Getty Images/Disney
Alfre Woodard as Sarabi
Woodard, who plays Simba's mother Sarabi, starred with Ejiofor in "12 Years a Slave" and has recently worked on Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" and "Luke Cage."
Getty Images/Disney
John Oliver as Zazu
We love Oliver's neurotic lectures on "Last Week Tonight," so he's a smart pick for Zazu, the ever irritated guardian for Simba. Rowan Atkinson voiced Zazu in the original.
Getty Images/Disney
John Kani as Rafiki
Like Rafiki, Kani is a veteran wise beyond his years. But new audiences will come to know him as King T'Chaka in "Black Panther."
Getty Images/Disney
Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner as Pumbaa and Timon
It means no worries with these two voicing the beloved warthog and meerkat. Ernie Sabella and Nathan Lane voiced the characters in the original film.
Getty Images/Disney
Florence Kasumba as Shenzi
Kasumba is best known for her work on "Emerald City" and will also be in "Black Panther." Whoopi Goldberg played hyena leader Shenzi in the original.
NBC/Disney
Eric André as Azizi
André plays another one of the trio of hyenas, but this time with a new name, "Azizi." We can perfectly see his irreverent, screwball persona matching what Jim Cummings did with "Ed" or Cheech Marin did with Banzai.
Getty Images/Disney
Keegan-Michael Key as Kamari
Another new hyena. Maybe the "Key & Peele" star can bust out his Obama Anger Translator voice when he's saying, "Who's the pig?"
Getty Images/Disney
JD McCrary as Young Simba
McCrary actually appeared on an episode of "The Eric André Show," as well as Tyler Perry's show "The Paynes."
Twitter/Disney
Shahadi Wright Joseph as Young Nala
Wright Joseph made her breakout role as part of the cast of "Hairspray Live!" and was even on Broadway for the stage production of "The Lion King."
Getty Images/Disney
1 of 14
Jon Favreau is directing the movie, which arrives on July 19, 2019
Like Rafiki brandishing the newborn Simba on top of Pride Rock, Disney on Wednesday unveiled the full cast of Jon Favreau's live-action remake of their 1994 classic "The Lion King." The new version coming in 2019 boasts an impressive cast to replace the original's iconic voice actors. Let's meet them.
Getty Images/Disney
Getty Images/Disney
