Glee alum Amber Riley is opening up about a decision she made while filming the show.
The 38-year-old actress played Mercedes Jones from 2009 to 2015. Her character was romantically involved with Chord Overstreet‘s Sam Evans throughout the series’ run.
During a recent appearance on the And That’s What You Really Missed podcast with hosts Jenna Ushkowitz and Kevin McHale, Amber revealed that Mercedes was originally supposed to lose her virginity to Sam in a “full blown” sex scene.
Keep reading to find out more…
“I told [Glee co-creator] Brad [Falchuk], ‘Absolutely not,’” Amber recalled. “He gave me the blue pages or whatever. It was written. I said, ‘No.’”
She then revealed how Brad responded after she rejected his idea.
“He said, ‘Well what if we just, you know, have you guys hold hands and walk to the room and then like close the door,’” she shared. “And I was just like,...
The 38-year-old actress played Mercedes Jones from 2009 to 2015. Her character was romantically involved with Chord Overstreet‘s Sam Evans throughout the series’ run.
During a recent appearance on the And That’s What You Really Missed podcast with hosts Jenna Ushkowitz and Kevin McHale, Amber revealed that Mercedes was originally supposed to lose her virginity to Sam in a “full blown” sex scene.
Keep reading to find out more…
“I told [Glee co-creator] Brad [Falchuk], ‘Absolutely not,’” Amber recalled. “He gave me the blue pages or whatever. It was written. I said, ‘No.’”
She then revealed how Brad responded after she rejected his idea.
“He said, ‘Well what if we just, you know, have you guys hold hands and walk to the room and then like close the door,’” she shared. “And I was just like,...
- 3/9/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
For Amber Riley, music is more than just her job — it’s her therapy.
The singer and actor is sharing her experiences with stress in support of the American Heart Association’s initiative to raise awareness about the impact that stress can have on physical and mental health.
“It’s important that people understand that your mental health can affect your physical. Mental health can also affect your heart too,” she shares in a video interview with Variety. “My stress really started to manifest itself habitually with insomnia – not sleeping, overthinking, not getting enough rest. When I was younger, it definitely manifested itself with eating, which I didn’t know. I didn’t understand why I was getting up at two in the morning, sneaking downstairs to get chips. It was just comfort-eating and not really being conscious of it.”
The actor shares that her relationship with chronic stress “definitely had its ebbs and flows,...
The singer and actor is sharing her experiences with stress in support of the American Heart Association’s initiative to raise awareness about the impact that stress can have on physical and mental health.
“It’s important that people understand that your mental health can affect your physical. Mental health can also affect your heart too,” she shares in a video interview with Variety. “My stress really started to manifest itself habitually with insomnia – not sleeping, overthinking, not getting enough rest. When I was younger, it definitely manifested itself with eating, which I didn’t know. I didn’t understand why I was getting up at two in the morning, sneaking downstairs to get chips. It was just comfort-eating and not really being conscious of it.”
The actor shares that her relationship with chronic stress “definitely had its ebbs and flows,...
- 12/21/2023
- by Bruna Nessif
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: SAG Award-winning and Grammy-nominated actor and singer Amber Riley has signed with ColorCreative for representation.
Known for her breakout role as Mercedes Jones on Fox’s musical comedy series Glee, Riley most recently starred in the Lifetime movie Single Black Female and won Season 8 of The Masked Singer.
Riley made her West End debut in 2016 as Effie White in Dreamgirls for which she received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Evening Standard Theater Award for Best Musical Performance. In 2020, Riley released her debut EP Riley and is currently recording a second EP with Grammy-winning producer Harmony Samuels.
Born and raised in Compton, Riley most recently became the first celebrity to win both Dancing With the Stars and The Masked Singer.
“Amber Riley brings a powerhouse talent to the table with her incredible voice and just as strong acting skills,” said Raj Raghavan, Head of Talent at ColorCreative.
Known for her breakout role as Mercedes Jones on Fox’s musical comedy series Glee, Riley most recently starred in the Lifetime movie Single Black Female and won Season 8 of The Masked Singer.
Riley made her West End debut in 2016 as Effie White in Dreamgirls for which she received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical and the Evening Standard Theater Award for Best Musical Performance. In 2020, Riley released her debut EP Riley and is currently recording a second EP with Grammy-winning producer Harmony Samuels.
Born and raised in Compton, Riley most recently became the first celebrity to win both Dancing With the Stars and The Masked Singer.
“Amber Riley brings a powerhouse talent to the table with her incredible voice and just as strong acting skills,” said Raj Raghavan, Head of Talent at ColorCreative.
- 3/22/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Amber Riley has appeared in an interview in which she was grilled about her former Glee co-star Lea Michele’s views on race.
Michele, who played Rachel Berry on the US series, found herself at the centre of a race row when Samantha Ware (Jane Hayward) claimed she made her life a “living hell” due to “traumatic microaggressions” on set.
Ware’s allegation came in response to Michele’s post in support of Black Lives Matter following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Riley, when pressed on whether she believed Michele was racially insensitive during her time on the series, said at the time in an Instagram video: “I don’t give a s***. People are out here dying, being murdered by police.”
She added that while the Glee set was “not the most comfortable environment”, she wasn’t “going to say that Lea Michele is racist”.
Now, during an appearance on Showtime’s Ziwe,...
Michele, who played Rachel Berry on the US series, found herself at the centre of a race row when Samantha Ware (Jane Hayward) claimed she made her life a “living hell” due to “traumatic microaggressions” on set.
Ware’s allegation came in response to Michele’s post in support of Black Lives Matter following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Riley, when pressed on whether she believed Michele was racially insensitive during her time on the series, said at the time in an Instagram video: “I don’t give a s***. People are out here dying, being murdered by police.”
She added that while the Glee set was “not the most comfortable environment”, she wasn’t “going to say that Lea Michele is racist”.
Now, during an appearance on Showtime’s Ziwe,...
- 12/10/2022
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
Spoiler Alert: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 8, episodes 11 and 12, of “The Masked Singer,” “Two-Hour Epic Finale,” which aired Nov. 30 on Fox.
“The Masked Singer” ended its eighth season on a “Glee”-ful note. Singer and actor Amber Riley, known for playing Mercedes Jones on Fox’s “Glee” and more recently for projects including “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and Lifetime’s “Single Black Female,” was revealed as this season’s winner on the Wednesday night finale.
Riley was unmasked as the Harp, beating out the Lambs — who were unmasked as 90s vocal group Wilson Phillips.
“It’s very validating as an artist,” Riley tells Variety about her win. “It can get very discouraging in this industry, especially as a music artist. I’m pretty much a new artist, even though I’ve been in this industry a really long time… to hear all the amazing...
“The Masked Singer” ended its eighth season on a “Glee”-ful note. Singer and actor Amber Riley, known for playing Mercedes Jones on Fox’s “Glee” and more recently for projects including “A Black Lady Sketch Show” and Lifetime’s “Single Black Female,” was revealed as this season’s winner on the Wednesday night finale.
Riley was unmasked as the Harp, beating out the Lambs — who were unmasked as 90s vocal group Wilson Phillips.
“It’s very validating as an artist,” Riley tells Variety about her win. “It can get very discouraging in this industry, especially as a music artist. I’m pretty much a new artist, even though I’ve been in this industry a really long time… to hear all the amazing...
- 12/1/2022
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Discovery+ is taking Glee fans back to McKinley High for a peek behind the curtain of Ryan Murphy’s musical phenomenon.
A yet-untitled docuseries from Ample Entertainment is set to reveal never-before-told stories about the hit series, as recounted by cast and crew members, journalists, and other individuals who experienced the world of Glee firsthand, our sister site Deadline reports.
More from TVLineArmie Hammer Hit With Disturbing Allegations in Trailer for Discovery+ Docuseries -- Plus, Get Release DateMerged HBO Max/Discovery+ Streaming Service Eyed for Summer '23It's Official: Funny Girl Stan Lea Michele Replacing Beanie Feldstein In Broadway Revival
Among other topics,...
A yet-untitled docuseries from Ample Entertainment is set to reveal never-before-told stories about the hit series, as recounted by cast and crew members, journalists, and other individuals who experienced the world of Glee firsthand, our sister site Deadline reports.
More from TVLineArmie Hammer Hit With Disturbing Allegations in Trailer for Discovery+ Docuseries -- Plus, Get Release DateMerged HBO Max/Discovery+ Streaming Service Eyed for Summer '23It's Official: Funny Girl Stan Lea Michele Replacing Beanie Feldstein In Broadway Revival
Among other topics,...
- 10/12/2022
- by Andy Swift
- TVLine.com
“The Masked Singer” season 8 kicked off on September 21 with an episode packed with performances by four of the 22 contestants. The stand-out among this quartet was the celebrity disguised as the Harp. How appropriate that she was designed as this most heavenly of musical instruments as her voice sounded angelic while she sang a soaring cover of the Pink hit “Perfect.”
We’ve been rewatching her first performance, which dropped in advance of the premiere, and have all your “The Masked Singer” spoilers, including the answer to the question, “Who is Harp”?
See Everything to know about ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 8
The Harp has a distinctive voice that we heard so clearly in the intro to the song when she sang a capella. That crystal clear sound was sustained throughout the tune as she hit one high note after another. It was no surprise that the four judges — Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy,...
We’ve been rewatching her first performance, which dropped in advance of the premiere, and have all your “The Masked Singer” spoilers, including the answer to the question, “Who is Harp”?
See Everything to know about ‘The Masked Singer’ Season 8
The Harp has a distinctive voice that we heard so clearly in the intro to the song when she sang a capella. That crystal clear sound was sustained throughout the tune as she hit one high note after another. It was no surprise that the four judges — Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy,...
- 9/28/2022
- by Paul Sheehan
- Gold Derby
Attention, Gleeks: Amber Riley has a message for you. More than 10 years after she was cast as Mercedes Jones on Glee, the 35-year-old actress recently asked people to stop referring to her by her former character's name. In a public plea shared to her Twitter, Amber explained why she doesn't like being called "Mercedes" and refuses to address those who choose to use that name when speaking to her. "I despise when ppl call me Mercedes. Put some respect on my name. Call me Amber or Riley," Amber, who also performs as a singer under the stage name Riley, tweeted on Jan. 15. "It's wild that I even have to say that. No shade to the show/character that gave me a career, but please stop...
- 1/19/2022
- E! Online
Amber Riley performed a touching tribute to her late “Glee” co-star Naya Rivera on Thursday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The actor and singer, whose artist moniker is Riley, sang her new track titled “A Moment,” in honor of Rivera, who died in July. Rivera was 33 years old.
“Now I need a moment alone with my soul, I can’t stop these thoughts, I need these,” Riley sang, while photos of Rivera were projected behind her. “I’m ready to fight, I’m ready to see what’s on the other side. I’m ready to cry and just let it be.”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” guest host Lil Rel Howery introduced the performance, saying, “Not too long ago, we both lost a really good friend in a tragic accident and we both will miss her forever.”
Hosting on the day after the sports world ground to a halt and...
“Now I need a moment alone with my soul, I can’t stop these thoughts, I need these,” Riley sang, while photos of Rivera were projected behind her. “I’m ready to fight, I’m ready to see what’s on the other side. I’m ready to cry and just let it be.”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” guest host Lil Rel Howery introduced the performance, saying, “Not too long ago, we both lost a really good friend in a tragic accident and we both will miss her forever.”
Hosting on the day after the sports world ground to a halt and...
- 8/28/2020
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
More than a month after Glee star Naya Rivera passed away, her Glee co-star and friend Amber Riley is paying tribute to Rivera through song.
Performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night, Riley, who starred on Glee as Mercedes Jones alongside Rivera, sang a song called “A Moment.”
Prior to taking the stage, guest host Lil Rel Howery thanked the show for allowing them to take a moment to honor Rivera. “Not too long ago we both lost a really amazing friend in a tragic accident and we both will miss her forever. I really want to thank the show for really ...
Performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night, Riley, who starred on Glee as Mercedes Jones alongside Rivera, sang a song called “A Moment.”
Prior to taking the stage, guest host Lil Rel Howery thanked the show for allowing them to take a moment to honor Rivera. “Not too long ago we both lost a really amazing friend in a tragic accident and we both will miss her forever. I really want to thank the show for really ...
- 8/28/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
More than a month after Glee star Naya Rivera passed away, her Glee co-star and friend Amber Riley is paying tribute to Rivera through song.
Performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night, Riley, who starred on Glee as Mercedes Jones alongside Rivera, sang a song called “A Moment.”
Prior to taking the stage, guest host Lil Rel Howery thanked the show for allowing them to take a moment to honor Rivera. “Not too long ago we both lost a really amazing friend in a tragic accident and we both will miss her forever. I really want to thank the show for really ...
Performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Thursday night, Riley, who starred on Glee as Mercedes Jones alongside Rivera, sang a song called “A Moment.”
Prior to taking the stage, guest host Lil Rel Howery thanked the show for allowing them to take a moment to honor Rivera. “Not too long ago we both lost a really amazing friend in a tragic accident and we both will miss her forever. I really want to thank the show for really ...
- 8/28/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Amber Riley is remembering former Glee co-star Naya Rivera, whose life was cut tragically short in a drowning accident on July 8.
“My favorite duet partner. I love you. I miss you,” Riley wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of Rivera and her son Josey singing. “I don’t have words right now, just lots of feelings. Rest In Peace Angel, and know that your family will never have to worry about anything.” (Read more tributes from the Glee cast.)
More from TVLineNaya Rivera's 'Greatest Glee Legacy' Was the 'Humor and Humanity' She Brought to 'Brittana,' EPs AffirmLea Michele Remembers Naya Rivera,...
“My favorite duet partner. I love you. I miss you,” Riley wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of Rivera and her son Josey singing. “I don’t have words right now, just lots of feelings. Rest In Peace Angel, and know that your family will never have to worry about anything.” (Read more tributes from the Glee cast.)
More from TVLineNaya Rivera's 'Greatest Glee Legacy' Was the 'Humor and Humanity' She Brought to 'Brittana,' EPs AffirmLea Michele Remembers Naya Rivera,...
- 7/14/2020
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
Amber Riley is addressing accusations made against her former “Glee” co-star Lea Michele by other black actors on the set of the Fox musical series.
Days after Michele began trending on Twitter following former “Glee” castmember Samantha Marie Ware’s accusation the actress of making her experience on set “a living hell,” Riley, who played Mercedes Jones in the series, explained her thoughts on the controversy during an Instagram Live conversation with journalist Danielle Young.
Michele has since apologized.
Riley and Young’s discussion focused on racism and the Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. But Riley also took a moment to address Michele’s behavior, saying that she doesn’t think the actress is racist.
Also Read: Lapd's Proposed Budget Increase Canceled, Millions in Further Cuts Likely
“I’m not going to say that Lea Michele is racist. That’s not what I’m saying,...
Days after Michele began trending on Twitter following former “Glee” castmember Samantha Marie Ware’s accusation the actress of making her experience on set “a living hell,” Riley, who played Mercedes Jones in the series, explained her thoughts on the controversy during an Instagram Live conversation with journalist Danielle Young.
Michele has since apologized.
Riley and Young’s discussion focused on racism and the Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. But Riley also took a moment to address Michele’s behavior, saying that she doesn’t think the actress is racist.
Also Read: Lapd's Proposed Budget Increase Canceled, Millions in Further Cuts Likely
“I’m not going to say that Lea Michele is racist. That’s not what I’m saying,...
- 6/4/2020
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Amber Riley is going under the sea to join ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live!… and fingers fins crossed she’ll be singing, too.
The Glee veteran has signed on to serve as emcee of the Alphabet network’s upcoming live presentation of the animated Disney classic, TVLine has learned. Riley “will present the Daughters of Triton with a special performance for King Triton and his subjects,” according to the network.
More from TVLineHow to Get Away With Murder Recap: How Michaela Got Her Groove BackA Million Little Things Recap: Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast?Grey's Recap: Charmed, I'm Sure -- Plus,...
The Glee veteran has signed on to serve as emcee of the Alphabet network’s upcoming live presentation of the animated Disney classic, TVLine has learned. Riley “will present the Daughters of Triton with a special performance for King Triton and his subjects,” according to the network.
More from TVLineHow to Get Away With Murder Recap: How Michaela Got Her Groove BackA Million Little Things Recap: Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast?Grey's Recap: Charmed, I'm Sure -- Plus,...
- 10/10/2019
- TVLine.com
Glee alum Amber Riley has been cast as the emcee in The Little Mermaid Live!, the hybrid musical event that airs on ABC next month.
She joins the previously announced cast including Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah (Ursula) and Shaggy (Sebastian), Graham Phillips (Prince Eric) and John Stamos (Chef Louis).
Billed as a tribute to the original animated classic and its music, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will feature live musical performances interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film. The hybrid format will combine sets and costumes created for the special with music from the original animated film and the Tony-winning Broadway stage version, composed by eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken. Howard Ashman’s film lyrics will also be showcased, with Glenn Slater, lyricist for the Broadway adaptation, as a contributor.
Riley played Mercedes Jones for the entire run of Fox’s...
She joins the previously announced cast including Auli’i Cravalho as Ariel, Queen Latifah (Ursula) and Shaggy (Sebastian), Graham Phillips (Prince Eric) and John Stamos (Chef Louis).
Billed as a tribute to the original animated classic and its music, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Little Mermaid Live! will feature live musical performances interwoven into the broadcast of the original feature film. The hybrid format will combine sets and costumes created for the special with music from the original animated film and the Tony-winning Broadway stage version, composed by eight-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken. Howard Ashman’s film lyrics will also be showcased, with Glenn Slater, lyricist for the Broadway adaptation, as a contributor.
Riley played Mercedes Jones for the entire run of Fox’s...
- 10/10/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Amber Riley has come aboard Tyler Perry’s written/directed drama, The List, which follows a woman who gets released from prison and reunited with her sister, who is forced to accept that she might be getting "catfished" by an online boyfriend. The Paramount Players film stars Tiffany Haddish, Tika Sumpter, Omari Hardwick, and Whoopi Goldberg. Perry is producing the pic, slated for release November 2. Riley spent six seasons as Mercedes Jones on Fox’s musical series Glee…...
- 3/27/2018
- Deadline
Matthew Morrison reunited with his Glee castmates on Wednesday and introduced them to his baby boy Revel James Makai Morrison. Most of the McKinley High School gang was there, including Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel), Jane Lynch (Sue Sylvester), Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones), Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson), and Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina Cohen-Chang). Everyone's favorite cheerleaders Heather Morris (Brittan Pierce) and Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez) were also there as were Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams), Becca Tobin (Kitty Wilde) and Vanessa Lengies (Sugar Motta, Quinn Fabray). Of course, it wouldn't be a full reunion without Lea Michele (Rachel Berry). Many of the show's behind-the-scenes stars were there, too,...
- 3/8/2018
- E! Online
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