Aug 16, 2026Entertainment177 words1 min read

Actor Tracee Ellis Ross Criticizes Jay Leno Over Old TV Show Snub

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Tracee Ellis Ross is an actor. She is an Emmy nominee. An Emmy is a big TV award.

Ross was in an old TV show called "Girlfriends." Many people watched the show. It had strong ratings. Ratings show how many people watch a show.

Jay Leno had a famous late-night TV show. Late-night shows are on TV at night. Many stars go on these shows to talk.

"Girlfriends" was never on Jay Leno's show. Ross thinks this was strange. The show was popular. It should have been invited.

Now Ross is speaking about this. She blasts Jay Leno. To blast someone means to criticize them strongly.

She asks a hard question. Was the show snubbed because of racism? A snub means people ignore someone or something on purpose.

Racism means treating people badly because of their race. "Girlfriends" was a show about Black women.

Ross wants people to think about this. She wants people to ask why some shows get less attention.

This story is now part of a bigger talk about race in Hollywood.

Vocabulary6 words

1. What is Tracee Ellis Ross?

2. What did Ross say about "Girlfriends"?

3. True or false: Ross thinks racism might explain the snub.

1. An actor and Emmy nominee 2. It had strong ratings but was never on Jay Leno's show 3. True

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Tracee Ellis Ross is an actor. She is an _____ nominee. An Emmy is a big TV award.

Ross was in an old TV show called "Girlfriends." Many people watched the show. It had strong _____.

Jay Leno had a famous _____ TV show. Late-night shows are on TV at night.

"Girlfriends" was never on Jay Leno's show. Ross thinks this was strange.

Now Ross is speaking about this. She _____ Jay Leno.

She asks a hard question. Was the show _____ because of _____?

"Girlfriends" was a show about Black women.

This story is now part of a bigger talk about race in Hollywood.