‘Queen Sugar’ Star Nicholas Ashe on Shooting Cop Scene, Aftermath: ‘It Was Terrifying’
”I felt a big responsibility to people who don’t get to live to tell their encounter with police, that ended much more tragically,“ actor tells TheWrap
(Spoiler alert: Please do not read on if you haven’t watched Tuesday’s episode of “Queen Sugar”)
The Season 2 premiere of “Queen Sugar” where Micah (Nicholas Ashe) was pulled over by a police officer and had a gun pulled on him was sadly a little too familiar for many people.
Fortunately for Micah, his arrest didn’t end up with him being shot but that doesn’t mean that the experience still wasn’t traumatizing. In the midseason finale, Micah finally confesses to Davis West (Timon Kyle Durrett) what exactly happened between the time of his arrest and being held in jail — the arresting officer had made a pit stop before taking him in and put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger pretending that he was going to actually shoot him.
“It was terrifying, honestly,” Ashe told TheWrap about filming the scene.
Black people in the United States are disproportionately targeted by cops and the consequences of it are often times devastating. According to the Washington Post, “black Americans are 2.5 times as likely as white Americans to be shot and killed by police officers.”
“We always talk about how life imitates art but life really does imitate art in what we do on “Queen Sugar,” said the 22-year-old actor. “As a result, I felt a big responsibility to people who don’t get to live to tell their encounter with police that ended much more tragically.”
In the midseason premiere, once Charley Bordelon West (Dawn-Lyen Gardner) learns what happened to Micah, she breaks down during a conversation with her mother where she says that she should have better prepared her son for living in the South.
“Often times people will place guilt where they feel appropriate as Charley does, but I don’t think anything she could have said could have prepared him exactly for what it would it be like to be stripped of what little privilege he had,” Ashe explained.
Ashe added that it actually doesn’t even matter how conscious you are of systemic racism and how much we know that these kinds of things happen, nothing can really prepare you for these experiences.
“That’s the paradigm that we’re dealing with with race in our country today,” the actor said. “Even having rational, coherent information is not enough to combat the evil and sadistic twisted things that have been happening both locally and nationally, internationally with our government.”
“Queen Sugar” airs Wednesdays on OWN at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
9 'Queen Sugar' Characters, Ranked From Worst to Best (Photos)
"Queen Sugar" on the Oprah Winfrey Network is already filled with drama, but we couldn't help stirring the pot by ranking the show's characters from worst to best.
9. Davis West (Timon Kyle Durrett) Boooooooooo! We literally only liked him for about half of the first episode.
8. Darla (Bianca Lawson) OK, so she loses a lot of points for being the worst mom ever, but the important part is that she's trying now. Go Darla!
7. Charley Bordelon West (Dawn Lyn Gardner) We love Charley and we know she means well, but she can be a bit controlling at times -- especially when it comes to flaunting around her money. Sometimes it's as if she feels like she can do what she wants around the farm without consulting anyone because she's putting up the most cash.
But homegirl earned her way to the top fair and square and we can't fault her for her work ethic.
6. Hollywood Desonier (Omar Dorsey) Awww Hollywood. He's only trying to love Aunt Violet the best he can, but that doesn't mean we can just overlook that time he lied about his somewhat ex-wife.
5. Ralph Angel Bordelon (Kofi Siriboe) Ralph Angel is like the sweet younger brother that always got himself in trouble, who is finally getting his life together but no one wants to really give him the benefit of the doubt just yet.
Ralph Angel is a dope dude and a great father who's just trying to do right and honor his father's farm and name.
4. Micah West (Nicholas L. Ashe) Even though Micah could totally be a spoiled rich kid if he wanted to -- he's not and we've got to give him credit for that. He's a good kid, nothing wrong here.
3. Blue Bordelon (Ethan Hutchison) Cutest. Kid. Ever. Plus he doesn't subscribe to societal gender norms and has a Barbie as a toy that he takes practically everywhere. We love him.
2. Violet Bordelon (Tina Lifford) Violet is the best aunt anyone could wish for, but she's also not one to be messed with. She knows her worth as we saw when she demanded that her job treat her well or else she'd leave them in the chaotic mess they created for themselves.
1. Nova Bordelon (Rutina Wesley) If there's anyone who's going to keep it real with you, it's Nova. She's also the most understanding and open-minded person on the show. She's very community oriented and is always willing to help out in any way.
What more could you want from a BFF? But get your own, because Nova is ours. Sorry.
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Spoiler alert: Davis sucks
"Queen Sugar" on the Oprah Winfrey Network is already filled with drama, but we couldn't help stirring the pot by ranking the show's characters from worst to best.
