Keke Palmer Recalls How Ryan Murphy ‘Ripped’ Into Her onScream QueensSet

Mar. 15, 2025

Keke Palmer; Ryan Murphy.Photo:Taylor Hill/getty (2)

Taylor Hill/getty (2)

Speaking to theLos Angeles Timesin an interview published on Sunday, Nov. 10, theNopeactress, 31, discussed a few topics from her upcoming memoirMaster of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, which will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 19.

Palmer, who starred as Zayday Williams inScream Queensfor two seasons in 2015 and 2016, recalled missing work due to a scheduling mishap — and how the show’s co-creator, 59, wasn’t too happy about it.

Keke Palmer in “Scream Queens” in 2015.Hilary Gayle/Fox

Hilary Gayle/Fox

“It was kind of like I was in the dean’s office,” she said, alleging that Murphy “ripped” into her for missing a day of filming.

“He was like, ‘I’ve never seen you behave like this. I can’t believe that you, out of all people, would do something like this,' ” she added.

According to Palmer, she was originally off on the day she missed, but production later changed the schedule, and she chose to honor a prior commitment rather than move things around for the new shoot date.

The Nickelodeon alum thought she and Murphy had moved past their issue until days later, an unnamed cast member made her think otherwise.

Keke Palmer.Christopher Peterson / SplashNews

Christopher Peterson / SplashNews

“I said, ‘Ryan talked to me and I guess he’s cool, it’s fine,’ and she was like, ‘It’s bad,' ” Palmer continued, feeling as though her costar may have been “trying to make” her “scared, which was a little irritating.”

Knowing that Murphy was a busy man and likely just concerned with his business dealings running smoothly, Palmer wrote in her book that she hoped speaking up for herself and honoring her prior commitment made theAmerican Horror Storyco-creator view her “as a business” also.

Still, she said things were not all good on set — referring to a time when a white costar she only identified in her memoir as “Brenda” allegedly made a racist remark to her whileScream Queenswas filming.

L-R: Abigail Breslin, Skyler Samuels and Keke Palmer in ‘Scream Queens’.Photo: Steve Dietl © Fox

“‘Keke, literally, just don’t. Who do you think you are? Martin f—— Luther King?’ ” Brenda allegedly replied.

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In her memoir, Palmer writes, according to the outlet, “It was such a weighted thing that she said, but I didn’t allow that weight to be projected on me, because I know who I am. I’m not no victim. That’s not my storyline, sweetie. I don’t care what her ass said. If I allow what she said to cripple me, then she would.”

Scream Queenswas a horror comedy series that also starredJamie Lee Curtis,Emma Roberts,Billie Lourd,Lea Michele,Abigail BreslinandNiecy Nash.Nick JonasandAriana Grandewere also featured in guest roles.

A rep for Murphy did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

source: people.com