Fox’s The Real co-host, Loni Love is about to prove once again that she’s everyone’s go-to gal when it comes to honesty and addressing those real conversations we’re too timid to discuss. Her latest project is an inspiring, hilarious memoir about loving yourself for who you are and embracing your flaws. The comedian and actress recently sat down with us to discuss the release of her upcoming book, quarantine life, and much more!
Tell us about your book I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To: True Life Lessons.
I’m very excited for my new book, ‘I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To. It’s a book about true life lessons. It is a memoir, beginning with how I grew up in the projects and navigated my way to Hollywood to become an Emmy award-winning talk show host.
Why do you feel it was important for you to release this book?
I’ve been telling people (especially on my Instagram Live) is that it’s important for people (especially people of color) to share our stories. We have to write our own stories. This is my story. I have a lot of them, but these are a few stories that I wanted to come together so that others can get to know who I am and where I’m from. I encourage that for everyone. Especially right now, we’re living during a historic pandemic. We also have civil unrest. People have to share what their story is. Just get a little notebook and write down how you’re feeling or what happened to you. You’re journalizing yourself but you’re also giving your own history to yourself. If you look at someone like Queen Elizabeth, she can go back to her history since the 1400s. Many of us don’t even have history of our great grandfather. It’s important to journal and write your own stories and tell your own history so that you can be remembered properly.
How excited are you to be joining WETV’s Bridezillas?
I’m so excited to be the new voice and narrator for the upcoming fall show, Bridezillas. The thing about Bridezillas is that it’s a combination of celebrating love and showing the ridiculously, hilarious, stressed out bride that are on the show. It is a celebration of love. We have some wonderful brides that may or may not get married (laughs). Their dress may or may not fit, it’s just a story and journey of what brides go through to celebrate their big day. I’m happy to be the voice and walk everyone through these stories. People are really going to be surprised at what they see. There are some fabulous stories, wonderful brides, it’s going to be something people (during this time) need.
How has your experience been as a judge on E! Entertainment’s Funny Dance Show?
Oh, my goodness. The Funny Dance Show on E! was started by two comedians at the Comedy Store. They started doing a funny dance show at the Comedy Store in Hollywood. It includes comedians that do a dance contest. I wanted to be a part of it because we need levity. This brings levity and is creative while supporting stand-up comedy. Sometimes, we get away from that. Anything that supports stand-up comedy, I try to support. It’s a great show and we really enjoy doing it.
Do you mind sharing with us how quarantine life has been for you as a comedian, author, and co-host of The Real?
Initially when we had to quarantine it was really hard because all of my jobs were cancelled. I do anywhere from 40 to 50 shows a year. This summer was going to be one of my best summers ever. I was going to be the host for EssenceFest. All of that was cancelled. The beginning was devastating to me because I love entertaining. As we got through quarantine, I started doing things and I was able to go back to understanding my love and joy for cooking. I started something called Quarantine with Loni. It was a hashtag on Instagram where I would put up my cooking dishes and I would call for my followers to show me their dishes. It has really become something great that people are doing. I started Quarantine with Loni on my Instagram Live and I did that to be somewhat a distraction to people for at least an hour to escape. We play games, we have talent shows, and it’s a way for us to connect. We started getting people from all over the world to connect with us on Instagram. Everyone was in quarantine, so it was a way for people to learn and understand that this is a world-wide issue, it still is. We’re not alone. Coming out of this, if you’re going to be an entertainer, it does not matter if the times or good or bad, you’re still an entertainer. I’ve been learning to work at home. We’ve had to shoot the last five weeks of The Real from home. I have my computer and webcam set up. Life has changed but I’m still apart of society, I still push through these protests, and I am continuing to work with the organization We All Vote. We want to make sure we pass the correct information so that in the fall, when the elections happen, people are signed up and register, and they exercise their rights to vote. I encourage anybody in quarantine to do something. Yes, you have rest but also while you have time at home, cook, spend more time with your family, have game nights, use this time while you have it.
I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To is set to release June 23, 2020. It is available for pre-order now!
photo courtesy of Loni Love
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Featured Image by Hachette Books
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