Do you think this is disrespectful?
By Michael
@Wrexxo (4019)
July 28, 2026 4:09pm CST
..It's 9:53 p.m. here in Nigeria. I'm getting ready for bed after catching up with my mom on the phone. I spoke with my younger sister too and tried reaching my younger brother, but couldn't connect...maybe next time
I also came across Keke Palmer's interview with Oprah. Keke has a new podcast and she interviewed Oprah.
It looked like a really interesting conversation, and I do plan to watch the full interview.
.. But one thing I noticed, and I didn't really catch it at first, was that Keke called Oprah "girl" a lot of times. She was saying things like "my girl".. I didn't really think about it until I checked the comment section
The comments were split, some people thought it was disrespectful given the age difference while others said it's a normal, casual thing they say to their own moms or aunts.
For me, I didn't think much of it and I don't really have a strong opinion. So, I'm curious. Do you think it comes across as disrespectful, or just casual slang?
10 people like this
8 responses
@AmbiePam (123711)
• United States
22h
In America, it’s common to say girl to someone older than you or more successful than you or younger than you even. A lot of female Mylotters I periodically refer to as girl. It’s just a friendly way to talk to a pal. Now, in the African American community here, younger black females often called older, female non relatives, “Auntie”. Oprah has actually talked about it before, and how she hates being referred to as “Auntie”. I imagine Keke Palmer knows this and is careful how she references her. Oprah has also known Keke since she was a child, and no doubt she is accustomed to how Oprah wants to be talked to.
2 people like this
@xstitcher (39624)
• Petaluma, California
20h
There is very little respect for elders anymore--but I am not familiar with how it is in the African American culture.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (85646)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21h
I think it largely depends on who's using it and how it's being inflected. If she was being condecending while using it, or playful and fun.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (123721)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
20h
It is in my opinion that girl is a common for women to call other women the use of the word girl even though a female superheroine in the 1960s Fantastic Four cartoons was called "The Invisible Girl" which is now "The Invisible Woman."
1 person likes this
@Ineeddentures (39863)
•
22h
No
It's not disrespectful at all
In fact the opposite applies
Age is not a factor,
I've seen it a lot for decades.
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (78217)
• Philippines
20h
I wonder are those comments coming from the US or from your country?
@toniganzon (78217)
• Philippines
9h
@Wrexxo That's kind of weird that they would make such a comment coz it's not considered rude in their own culture.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (99442)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22h
I think it's just casual slang, If Oprah would object she would say so,
1 person likes this
