Comedian Hannah Berner is owning up to her poor choice of words during a post-Academy Awards interview with Megan Thee Stallion that sparked backlash on social media.
On the red carpet of the Vanity Fair Oscars Party, Berner and her “Giggly Squad” podcast co-host Paige DeSorbo were clearly excited to meet the Grammy-winning hip-hop star.
During a brief chat, Berner gushed to Megan that she instilled “so much confidence to women everywhere,” and told her that listening to her music makes her want to “fight someone.”
@vanityfair Reminder: #MeganTheeStallion is that girl. #VFOscarParty
The latter part of her fangirl moment ignited a firestorm online, with many calling the remark a “microaggression” for it seeming to nod to a stereotype of Black women being combative.
Days after feeling the heat, the “Summer House” alum issued an apology.
“Interviewing Megan Thee Stallion was a dream of mine,”Berner wrote in an Instagram Story on Thursday. “I love her music and it’s my go-to whenever I need to boost my confidence before a show. Looking back at the interview, I wish I used any other word except ‘fight’ to describe how her songs impact me.”
“It was a careless choice of words and there was no ill intent,” she continued. “I recognize and acknowledge that what I said has a deeper meaning and I am so sorry to Megan. I appreciate everyone who brought this to my attention.”
In a Poynter think piece, culture reporter TyLisa Johnson referred to the red carpet interaction as “Lowkey ‘angry Black woman’ references in 2025.”
But the “Savage” rapper has taken the social media controversy in stride.
On Sunday night, after Berner spoke about turning on her music when people are “talking s—,” Megan noticeably pivoted the conversation to a positive tone: “Because you want to throw that fighting s–t out the window, and you want to get cute and be a bad b—h.”
