Who did Skyler Samuels play in Scream Queens? Character explored as actress praises Keke Palmer for defending her from bullies on set
Skyler Samuels recently expressed her appreciation for Keke Palmer for saving her from bullies while they worked together on Scream Queens. Notably, Samuels gained recognition for her performance as Grace Gardner in the first season of the dark comedy slasher series.
On November 15, 2024, Skyler Samuels shared an Instagram post featuring a photo of herself with Palmer, calling her a queen in the caption. In her statement, Skyler said:
"I am incredibly proud of Keke for speaking out about her experiences on Scream Queens. That's what Keke does, she speaks up and stands up, for herself and others. Scream Queens was a very challenging show to make."
Skyler Samuels posted this statement around three days after a report by The Los Angeles Times reported that Keke Palmer opened up about a racist comment reportedly made towards her by one of the cast members of Scream Queens in the upcoming memoir, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative.
Samuels praised Palmer for being on her side, saying that the latter was the only one to take a stand for her. Skyler Samuels also wrote:
"She was brave enough to have my back even though she knew that it might take her a target of bullies on set. I have unending gratitude for the professionalism and kindness Keke showed me. She is a leading lady in this industry who is well aware of her influence, and she uses it for the better."
Skyler Samuels appeared in only one season of Scream Queens
As mentioned, Skyler Samuels portrayed Grace Gardner, one of the main characters in Scream Queens. She appeared in the first season of the show, which premiered back in 2015.
When Grace first appears, she is a fresher at Wallace University, accompanied by her father, Wes, who drops her at the school's dormitory. Wes advises her to avoid being a part of the sorority due to their harsh reputation and hazing rituals.
Grace later reveals to her roommate, Zayday Williams, that her mother died when she was around two years old. She even requests Zayday to join Kappa Kappa Tau, but the latter rejects. Grace tries to convince Zayday by saying that if she is chosen as the KKT president, she would become successful, eventually entering the world of politics.
Grace and Zayday start supporting each other on different occasions, and they aim to change the system that is being followed by the sorority. However, they find that there is something weird going on at Wallace University and try to solve the mystery.
Grace shares a best-friend-like relationship with her father, Wes. Although Wes keeps an eye on her, Grace prefers to get more independence. She also develops feelings for Pete Martinez, with whom she finds more shared interests.
Keke Palmer reveals more about the racist remark
Keke Palmer did not disclose the name of the person who made the racist comment towards her. However, she referred to the individual as Brenda in an interview with The Los Angeles Times. She explained that the cast member was initially disturbed after a dispute with a colleague.
Palmer said that while she tried to speak to Brenda, the cast member reportedly responded:
"Keke, literally, just don't. Who do you think you are? Martin f*cking Luther King?"
Palmer described Brenda's statement as a "weighted thing" and added:
"I'm not no victim. That's not my storyline, sweetie. I don't care what her a*s said. If I allow what she said to cripple me, then she would."
The 31-year-old played the role of Zayday Williams in Scream Queens from 2015 to 2016.