Skip to main content
Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
The cast of The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans has not needed much prodding when it comes to making eventful television. Maybe that’s because this cast ain’t afraid to go there, or maybe it’s because the show has an uncredited story producer in Julie. Whatever the reason, one staple of the Real World Homecoming series has been surprisingly absent from most of the first three episodes: the Incoming Message!
In previous seasons, the roommates watched clips from the original series and were then asked one very loaded question, thus prompting discussion and debate. We haven’t seen many Incoming Messages in New Orleans yet because of the complete chaos of the last two episodes, but they are back this week. In fact, one kicks off this exclusive clip from this week’s episode of The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans — and it definitely prompts a discussion. You can check out the clip at the top of this article!
This Incoming Message is a big one, as it brings up the issue of race and how it impacted the season in 2000. We see Julie say a few racist jokes and slurs, and unseen footage shows Jamie talking about “black-on-black crime” which [sighs]. The clips were cringe-inducing then, and now they’re cringe-inducing with 22 years of interest. And in every instance, the responsibility of educating the white roommates falls upon the shoulders of the roommates of color, Melissa and Tokyo (then David) — but, as shown in the clips, mostly Melissa.
If you’ve taken the opportunity to rewatch Real World: New Orleans now that it’s on Paramount+, you will be shocked at how much of it is still relevant, how many of these identical arguments are still being had, and how completely right Melissa was in every instance. But the flowers that viewers may give Melissa now after being reminded of how smart, concise, honest, and brave she was to say what needed to be said decades ago? Those flowers today won’t outweigh the hate mail that piled up on Melissa 22 years ago for being justifiably outspoken.
Even more enlightening is the part of this clip where Melissa pans the spotlight away from herself and shines it on The Real World. She points out that while the franchise put vital discussions about race on national television, it at times did so at the expense of the people of color on the show. Like, seriously, Real World Homecoming: New York was one overdue season-long apology to Kevin and how he was portrayed 30 years ago.
Melissa knows that conversations about race are important, yes, but she also knows that pop culture reaches way more people than a one-on-one convo would. If the cast is gonna talk about race, then they need to not just talk about how race pertains to the seven people in the house, they need to talk about how conversations about race are edited and beamed to millions of people. It’s a great moment, and god only knows where the conversation’s gonna go after that.
You’ll have to tune into The Real World Homecoming: New Orleans on Paramount+ on Wednesday, May 11 to find out.
