Last week on social media, reality TV stars Joseline Hernandez and Draya Michelle debated about who would be a better Diamond, the lead character in the 1998 Black classic film The Player’s Club, if a reboot was made. LisaRaye McCoy, who portrayed Diamond in the movie, added her two cents– but it wasn’t what most people thought it would be.
The battle of the light-skins began when Draya posted an Instagram story with a photo of herself alongside a picture of the original cast of the film with the caption, “This could be me in a reboot, but y’all playing.”
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Joseline, not to be outdone, clapped back under the post on The Shaderoom, “Except that she’s not #joselinescaberet, everyone will agree that I’m the perfect girl @icecube.”
Oop.
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Joseline’s response caused an uproar. Some followers agreed with the Puerto Rican Princess, and others expressed she was better-suited to play Ronnie, Diamond’s archnemesis in the film.
LisaRaye discussed the debate with her fellow co-hosts on Cocktails With Queens.
She didn’t necessarily object to the idea of The Player’s Club reboot, but the actress wanted to ensure that Diamond’s part was done justice.
“I do have a problem with some of the sequels. Sometimes when they’re done so well, it’s as if the first time you see it — it’s like — let Diamond be Diamond.”
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“Maybe, somebody can play Cubic Zirconia,” she continued. “Diamond was done so well, so she’s still Diamond. You know what I mean? I don’t know what to say.”
LisaRaye went on to say that she didn’t think Joseline would be a good fit for the part.
“I’ll tell you that I don’t see Joseline in that role, though.”
Co-host Vivica A. Fox seconded the sentiment.
They also both agreed that Joseline had the physique to portray Diamond.
“Honey, she got it, she got body ody ody ody for real,” LisaRaye expressed.
Although she didn’t feel Joseline could rock as Diamond, LisaRaye did give Draya props as she referenced the reality star’s cosplay outfit from 2017.
RT @TaiaAlexis_: @drayamichele was diamond off the players club for halloween ????? pic.twitter.com/7BGM58E0v9
— Draya Michele (@drayamichele) October 30, 2017
“And I think Draya can– absolutely. Draya did it for Halloween, and she did it very well. She hit me with ‘Look, I’m a little you,’ You know what I mean? And I’ve actually acted in some things with her as well.”
Even though the actress opined that Draya would crush the role, she didn’t think Ice Cube would cast a well-known actress to play Diamond.
“But you know what I really really think,” LisaRaye later said. “I think that they would do what Cube did in the first place — they would get a ‘no-name.”
Co-host Claudia Jordan told LisaRaye that she could portray Diamond- even today.
Ironically, The Player’s Club was LisaRaye’s first film, which led her to suggest that whoever directs the film should keep that same energy. It should also be stated that there are no plans for an actual reboot.
