HitFix

Kappa responds to Chris Rock’s Kappa mention in his Oscars opening monologue

by: Uproxx authors

Chris Rock”s opening monologue at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday took the #OscarsSoWhite controversy head-on.

“Everyone wants to know: Is Hollywood racist? Is it burning-cross racist? No. It”s a different kind of racist,” the comedian-actor, hosting the Oscars for the second time, said. “You're damn right Hollywood's racist, but not the racist that you”ve grown accustomed to. Hollywood is sorority racist. It”s like, ‘We like you, Rhonda, but you're not a Kappa.” That”s how Hollywood is.”

What do the Kappa ladies think of this?

HitFix reached out to a few Kappa sororities to get their thoughts on Rock”s Greek life mention. Kappa Kappa Gamma vice president Elizabeth Bailey sent us this response via email:

“We believe it (the reference to Kappa) was used as a generic reference to Greek life. Kappa is a commonly used Greek letter and last night”s reference certainly does not reflect Kappa Kappa Gamma”s position on diversity regarding our membership selection. We are an inclusive organization, seeking a diverse group of members who will further our mission and purpose through academic achievement, good character, and shared friendship.”

Bailey also wrote that details on Kappa Kappa Gamma”s position regarding human dignity and membership selection can be found on the website of the group (which is actually referred to as a women”s fraternity and not a sorority since it was founded before the term “sorority” was commonly used).

So Kappa Kappa Gamma”s VP isn”t taking Rock”s comment as an affront to Kappas. But some college students and alums took to Twitter to express outrage at what they saw as a dig at their sorority:

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You can read HitFix”s Alan Sepinwall”s review of the Oscars telecast, including his take on Rock”s hosting job, here.

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