Watch Tiffany Haddish completely lose it when Ellen reveals the best surprise ever.
Tiffany Haddish, breakout star of the hit film "Girls Trip," is honest, bold, and absolutely hilarious — especially when she's just being herself.
Her recent come-up is especially notable given her difficult childhood. Haddish and her siblings entered foster care after their mother was diagnosed with a debilitating mental illness as a result of a traumatic brain injury.
Haddish had behavior issues and a tough time in school but never lost her quick wit and drive. She never stopped grinding in pursuit of a career in comedy. Decades later, she’s finally getting her due.
Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images.
This week, Haddish appeared on "The Ellen Show," and the topic quickly turned to Haddish's fondness for Oprah Winfrey.
She told host Ellen DeGeneres about her plan to go into business selling vegetables with the notoriously garden-loving legend, calling her imaginary venture "Tiff & O’s" — "'Cuz I’m probably going to be doing most of the work," Haddish explained.
Haddish also told the story of working as an extra in the made-for-TV film “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” which Oprah produced. Haddish was on set, telling jokes to the other background actors between takes when Oprah walked by and told her, "You’re a very funny lady!"
At the time, Haddish responded like most of us would when coming face to face with a compliment from Oprah:
All GIFs via The Ellen Show/YouTube.
Oprah asked her name and told Haddish to write to her and keep her posted on her stand-up career. Haddish assured Oprah she would.
She kept up her end of the bargain, writing to Oprah over the years, but the Queen of Entertainment didn't respond to her letters.
So Ellen went full Ellen and surprised Haddish by surprising her with her idol.
When Haddish realized Oprah was there, in the flesh, she absolutely lost it. There was dancing, laughter, and a flood of tears. It's a pure-joy, full-circle moment.
To go from a childhood in foster care with an uncertain future to meeting your idol on national TV while doing press for your own exploding career? That’s nothing short of amazing. And this exchange was just the best:
"I love you," Haddish said through happy tears.
"You are so, so, so, good," Winfrey responded.
"You told me that in a dream. … I ask questions, and I answer them in your voice," Haddish admitted.
As to why Oprah never responded to the letters? She says she didn't receive them.
She's a busy mogul, so it's no wonder a few things slip through the cracks. Oprah assured Haddish she’d respond in the future and that she’d even give Haddish the best ways to reach her.
The two continued their reunion by cooking "joyful collard greens" with Ellen. It was a moment a long time coming, but some surprises are worth the wait — or as Haddish said, "I looked at myself in the mirror, and I said, 'Girl, today is going to be a magical day.'"
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.