Where Is The Black Girl Magic?

The Hypocrisy of 'Black Girl Magic': When Black Women Are Their Own Biggest Haters

By Imani Caldwell

Brooklyn, NY - Recent events at The Breakfast Club have once again shined a light on a deep, uncomfortable truth—Black women, despite loudly championing “Black Girl Magic,” often find themselves at odds with each other in ways that betray the very unity they claim to celebrate. The public fallout between Jess Hilarious and Loren LoRosa is not just another celebrity spat; it is a reflection of a larger issue within the Black female community: the deep-seated jealousy, competition, and lack of genuine sisterhood among Black women.

Jess Hilarious recently returned to The Breakfast Club after maternity leave, only to find herself feeling sidelined and unsupported by her co-hosts, DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God. At the heart of the tension is Loren LoRosa, whose presence on the show seemingly expanded in Jess’s absence. Instead of a smooth transition back, Jess felt her position was threatened, leading to an on-air confrontation that exposed the underlying tension. While many are focusing on the power dynamics of the show itself, the real conversation should be about why Black women in media—and beyond—find themselves tearing each other down rather than lifting each other up.

Prior to their unprofessional airing of grievances on live radio, Jess Hilarious took to her live stream and informed her audience that she was the main reason Loren was on the show, insinuating that she “made Loren” and that everyone should remember that. This statement underscores a truth that is rarely acknowledged: Black women embody, "we want to see you do well, but not better than me." That is what this boils down to. Jess was okay with Loren being on the show, but she did not like when Loren outshined her. This is a dynamic we see in many relationships between Black women, both on and off social media.

Although Loren was employed with TMZ prior and has a background in journalism, Jess Hilarious still acts as if she is better than her. Audiences have pointed out that Jess often struggled to read news reports and frequently tripped over her words. Loren, on the other hand, was professional, delivered the news accurately, and had her facts down straight—simply put, she did a better job. Instead of acknowledging her own shortcomings and working to improve, Jess resented Loren for excelling in an area where she lacked preparation.

Jess stated in her livestream that she wanted to land The Breakfast Club gig and that she wanted it so badly. Yet, she never took the time to sharpen her news reporting skills for her dream position. How can you get mad at a woman who is simply hungrier than you? Jess claimed that she wanted the position on The Breakfast Club so badly, but shortly after securing the job, she became pregnant. Why would she do that? It would be better for her to focus on motherhood, especially since becoming a mother is her primary focus at this time—and that is okay too. The problem arises when you want to have both but do not strive to be great in both.

There is a common narrative that Black women must fight for the few spots available in industries that historically shut them out. Because of this, many see another Black woman’s success as a direct threat to their own. This creates an environment where mutual support is replaced with rivalry, and genuine encouragement turns into passive-aggressive shade. Instead of working together to demand more spaces and representation, many Black women choose to fight over the crumbs, ensuring that only one or two are allowed to shine at any given time.

This isn’t just a Breakfast Club problem—it’s a community-wide issue. We see it in entertainment, corporate spaces, and social circles. Women who claim to advocate for “Black Girl Magic” will quickly undermine, discredit, and outright hate on another Black woman if they feel she is too successful, too beautiful, or simply occupying space they believe should be theirs.

The hypocrisy is glaring. Many Black women proudly wear “Black Girl Magic” slogans, flooding social media with messages of empowerment. But behind closed doors—or even in public forums like The Breakfast Club—they are quick to undercut, gossip, and celebrate each other’s failures. There is an unspoken culture of performative sisterhood that exists only when it’s convenient. The same women who champion “supporting Black-owned businesses” are often the first to refuse to collaborate with or uplift another Black woman’s brand.

Look at how quickly Black women are to label each other as “jealous” or “haters” instead of addressing underlying insecurities. When Jess Hilarious confronted her co-hosts, rather than fostering a conversation about respect and equity, the discourse immediately turned into “she’s just mad someone else took her spot.” The assumption that Black women cannot experience valid feelings of being disrespected without it being reduced to jealousy is part of the larger issue that needs to be addressed.