Amanda Seales

Seales's first film was a minor role as Katy in the 1993 movie Cop and a Half.[3] 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.[4] Seales became publicly known as "VJ Amanda Diva" on MTV2 Sucker Free Countdown on Sundays.[2] In 2016 she appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series Insecure, as Tiffany DuBois.[5] Also in 2016, Seales began hosting her own show on truTV called Greatest Ever.[6][7]

On January 26, 2019, HBO debuted her first stand-up comedy special I Be Knowin'.[8] Bring the Funny is a comedy competition series that premiered on July 9, 2019 on NBC.[9] Seales hosts, alongside judges Kenan Thompson, Chrissy Teigen, and Jeff Foxworthy.[10] On January 6, 2020, Seales joined the syndicated daytime talk show, The Real, as a co-host alongside Loni Love, Tamera Mowry, Adrienne Bailon, and Jeannie Mai.[11] 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.[12]

In June 2020, Seales revealed on social media that she will host the BET Awards 2020 on June 28, 2020.[13]

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. In 2008, she was featured on the song "Manwomanboogie" on Q-Tip's Grammy-nominated album The Renaissance.[14] On March 3, 2009, Seales released Spandex, Rhymes & Soul.[15][16][17]

Seales hosts a weekly podcast titled Small Doses.[18][19]

In 2010, Seales teamed up with Truth, to start an anti-smoking campaign.[20]

In 2019, Amanda Seales was involved in a controversy where many people mistakenly reported that she had accused former NFL player and neurosurgeon resident Myron Rolle of sexually harassing several women. She did not make these accusations herself, but was sharing that she had heard those allegations from other women. Multiple people who were spreading that story have since admitted that Seales did not make those allegations herself.[21][22][23]

In the weeks preceding Rodney Reed's November 20, 2019 execution date, Seales publicly urged Texas Governor Greg Abbott to exonerate Reed or stay his execution. She later rescinded her support for after learning more about his history.[24]

In June 2020, Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo quoted Seales' words: "You cannot enjoy the rhythm and ignore the blues" during her emotional speech about the murder of George Floyd, racism and it's effect on her own mental health. Amfo received praise from her listeners and more.