Amanda Seales | |
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![]() Seales in 2019 | |
Born | Amanda Ingrid Seales July 1, 1981 Inglewood, California, U.S. |
Education | State University of New York, Purchase (BA) Columbia University (MA) |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1992–present |
Comedy career | |
Medium | |
Genres | Stand-up comedy |
Website | amandaseales |
Amanda Ingrid Seales (born July 1, 1981), formerly known by the stage names Amanda Diva and Mendacious D [1] , is a Grenadian-American actress. From 2017 to 2021, she starred in the HBO comedy series Insecure . In 2019, HBO released her first stand-up comedy special, I Be Knowin. [2] Then, in 2020, Seales launched Smart Funny & Black, a comedy gameshow that showcases Black culture, history, and experience. [3] Seales was also one of the co-hosts of the syndicated daytime talk show, The Real . [4]
Amanda Ingrid Seales was born in Inglewood, California, on July 1, 1981. Her mother was born and raised in Mt. Moritz, Grenada. As a result, both she and her mother are dual citizens of the US and Grenada. Her father is a Black American from Roxbury, Boston. [5] Seales moved to Orlando, Florida, in 1989, where she later attended Dr. Phillips High School. She graduated from SUNY-Purchase, then earned a master's degree in African American studies with a concentration in hip-hop from Columbia University. [6] [7] [8]
Seales's first film was a minor role as Katy in the 1993 movie Cop and a Half . [9] The next year Seales was featured on the Nickelodeon sitcom My Brother and Me (1994) as Deonne Wilburn. In 2002 she appeared on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam. [10] Seales became publicly known as "VJ Amanda Diva" on MTV2 Sucker Free Countdown on Sundays. [6] In 2016 she appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series Insecure as Tiffany DuBois. [11] Also in 2016, Seales began hosting her own show on truTV called Greatest Ever . [12] [13]
On January 26, 2019, HBO debuted her first stand-up comedy special I Be Knowin'. [14] Bring the Funny is a comedy competition series that premiered on July 9, 2019, on NBC. [15] Seales hosts, alongside judges Kenan Thompson, Chrissy Teigen, and Jeff Foxworthy. [16]
Throughout 2019, Seales served as a frequent guest host for the syndicated daytime talk show The Real . [17] On January 6, 2020, Seales was promoted from guest co-host to permanent co-host. [18] She departed the series after six months of co-hosting, citing her dissatisfaction with the inability to openly speak on recent social issues as a reason. [19] [20] In September 2020, Seales accused The Real of borrowing ideas from her show Smart Funny & Black, saying a segment titled "Black Lives Matter University" featured a logo that closely resembled Smart Funny & Black's emblem. [21]
In June 2020, Seales hosted the BET Awards 2020. [22] In February 2022, Seales was cast in the three-part documentary series Everything's Gonna Be All White , airing on Showtime. [23]
In 2007, Seales replaced Natalie Stewart of the musical duo Floetry on tour with Marsha Ambrosius, and in December of that same year Seales (as Amanda Diva) released her first extended play (EP) Life Experience.[ citation needed ] In 2008, she was featured on the song "Manwomanboogie" on Q-Tip's Grammy-nominated album The Renaissance . [24] On March 3, 2009, Seales released Spandex, Rhymes & Soul. [25] [26] [27]
Seales hosts a weekly podcast titled Small Doses. [18] [28] Seales's book, Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use, was released in 2019. The book is an extension of her podcast of the same name. It is a volume of essays, axioms, original illustrations, and photos from her trademark "self-help from the hip” style of commentary. [29]
She created and hosts the touring variety game show Smart Funny & Black, where her love of games and music was used to serve as a safe space for the Black voice, and celebrates the many contributions Black Americans have made to history and pop culture, and more. [30] On April 18, 2022, Seales began co-hosting a new weekly radio show, Amanda Seales’ Smart Funny & Black Radio on SiriusXM, alongside Taj Rani and JeremiahLikeTheBible, featuring topics such as games, celebrity interviews and African-American culture. [31]
Seales has frequently spoken on social issues.
During an interview on the podcast Club Shay Shay, Seales confirmed that she previously dated Pusha T. She highlighted the quality of the rappers she has been involved with, stating, "As you can see, the rappers that I have dated are very great MCs, because I have high quality." No further details about the duration or nature of the relationship have been publicly disclosed by either party.
In the same Club Shay Shay interview, Seales also confirmed a past relationship with Lupe Fiasco. This claim has been a topic of discussion among fans, with some pointing to a possible reference to Seales in Lupe Fiasco's music. Specifically, on the outro of his album Food & Liquor, Lupe Fiasco gives a shout-out to "Amanda Diva," which some have speculated refers to Seales. [43] Seales has not commented on the specific nature of this shout-out, but her public statement has corroborated a prior connection between the two artists. [44]
Seales described herself as autistic during an interview on Club Shay Shay. She later clarified that she is self-diagnosed and has not been diagnosed by a licensed medical professional. [45]
In September 2025, she signed an open pledge with Film Workers for Palestine pledging not to work with Israeli film institutions "that are implicated in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people." [46]
Title | Album details |
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Life Experience |
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Spandex, Rhymes & Soul |
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Madame Monochrome |
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Title | Album details |
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Foreplay |
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Technicolor Lover |
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Title | Year | Album | Artist(s) |
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"Manwomanboogie" [52] | 2008 | The Renaissance | Q-Tip |
"Get Right" [53] | 2010 | Rebel Without Applause | Johnny Polygon |
"Blvd Broad" [53] | |||
"You Belong to Me" [54] | Catch-Up | ||
"Beautiful Things" | LIFE | Kenichiro Nishihara | |
"Proud 2 Be" [55] | 2012 | Crack on Steroids | N.O.R.E., M-1 |
Title | Year | Director(s) |
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"Neon" (featuring Johnny Polygon) | 2009 | Lyn-don McCray [56] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1993 | Cop and a Half | Katy | |
2006 | Freedomland | Angry Female Tenant | |
2011 | Identical | Poet #2 | |
2016 | Ladies Book Club | Helena | TV movie |
2018 | The Story of Our Times | Shancy | TV movie |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1994–95 | My Brother and Me | Deonne Wilburn | Recurring cast |
2002–05 | Def Poetry Jam | Herself | Episode: "Episode #2.5" & "#5.8" |
2010 | Undateable | Herself | Main guest |
2011 | Independent Lens | Herself | Episode: "Deaf Jam" |
2012 | MTV's Hip Hop POV | Herself/Co-Host | Main co-host |
Made | Herself/Made Coach | Episode: "Professional Actress: Rita" | |
2013 | Big Evening Buzz | Herself/Panelist | Episode: "Dido" |
Master of the Mix | Herself/Host | Main host: Season 3 | |
Big Morning Buzz Live | Herself/Panelist | Recurring panelist | |
2015 | The View | Herself/Guest Co-Host | Episode: "Episode #18.85" |
2015–17 | Get Your Life | Herself | Main cast |
2016 | Comedy Knockout | Herself | Episode: "That Ass, Tho" |
2016–17 | Greatest Ever | Herself/Host | Main host |
2016–21 | Insecure | Tiffany DuBois | Recurring cast |
2017 | Hood Adjacent with James Davis | Herself | Episode: "Black Twitter" |
@midnight | Herself | Episode: "Episode #4.42" & "#4.136" | |
Gay of Thrones | Herself | Episode: "The Sores of Whores" | |
2017–20 | The Real | Herself/Co-Host | Guest co-host: Season 4, Main Co-Host: Season 6 |
2018 | Black-ish | Barbara | Recurring cast: Season 4 |
Animals. | Tia/Waitress 1 (voice) | Episode: "Rats" | |
2018–19 | Hip Hop Squares | Herself/Panelist | Recurring panelist: Season 5-6 |
2019 | Bring the Funny | Herself/Host | Main host |
Camp Confessions | Herself | Episode: "Amanda Seales Makes Love to Spirit" | |
2019–21 | To Tell the Truth | Herself/Panelist | Guest panelist: Season 4-5 & 7 [57] |
2020 | Cooked with Cannabis | Herself | Episode: "High Holidays" |
Floored | Herself/Guest Judge | Episode: "Beware the Bears" | |
BET Awards | Herself/Host | Main host | |
Hollywood Game Night | Herself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Twitch & Shout" | |
Match Game | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Episode #5.8" | |
2021 | Fast Foodies | Herself | Episode: "Amanda Seales" |
Finding Magic Mike | Herself | Episode: "A Talented Man" | |
2022 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Herself | Episode: "Wrestling While Black" |
Everything's Gonna Be All White | Herself | Main guest | |
Inventions That Changed History | Herself | Recurring guest | |
Celebrity Game Face | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Cedric the Entertainer Busts Kevin's Chops" | |
Wheel of Fortune | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Amanda Seales, Snoop Dogg, Mark Duplass" | |
Mickey Mouse Funhouse | Annie the Giant (voice) | Recurring cast: Season 1 | |
Sherman's Showcase | Faith Evans | Episode: "Fashion!" | |
2022–23 | 25 Words or Less | Herself/Contestant | Recurring contestant: Season 3-5 |
2022–24 | Pictionary | Herself/Team Captain | Recurring Team Captain: Season 1, Guest Team Captain: Season 2 |
2023 | See It Loud: The History of Black Television | Herself | Recurring guest |
The $100,000 Pyramid | Herself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Will Sasso vs. Amanda Seales and Dulé Hill vs. Francia Raisa" | |
Name That Tune | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Lightning & Glitter!" | |
Celebrity Squares | Herself/Contestant | Recurring guest | |
Celebrity Jeopardy! | Herself/Contestant | Episode: "Quarter Final #9: Kyra Sedgwick, Mo Rocca and Amanda Seales" | |
Crimson Hearts Collide | Kelsey | Main cast |
Year | Title |
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2007 | Beef 4 |
2008 | Big Pun: The Legacy |
2014 | Bottoms Up |