Comedian Sheila D Speaks Out About Racist Feet Remarks During Netflix’s “Pop the Balloon” [Video]

Comedian Shiela D is speaking out following a very rocky start to Netflix’s version of “Pop the Balloon.”

Video

In case you missed it, social media has been set ablaze with commentary after reality TV personality Johnny Bananas said that Sheila, a Black woman, has feet that look like she “sleeps from a tree upside down,” suggesting that she was a monkey. The moment sparked immediate backlash, with many accusing Johnny of being racist. Some social media users even reposted past bigoted tweets from him.

Johnny defended himself, stating that he was not referring to Sheila, even though he appeared to be pointing at her feet. Sheila, however, hopped on social media to share her side of the story. According to her, Johnny was targeting her.

Hey morons, I was actually talking about the WHITE girl whose toes were hanging over her shoes who is literally dressed like a fucking tree! It’s wild how fast some people can twist a moment into a false narrative. There’s real racism out there, weaponizing fake outrage for… https://t.co/jryR1OICox pic.twitter.com/cmjgdKs8aj

— Johnny Bananas (@johnnybananas) April 11, 2025

“I was actually surprised because it just looked like on set, that he was talking about me. I mean, he pointed right at my toes,” she stated. Sheila also dismissed Johnny and his fans’ claim that he was pointing to the woman standing next to her, who was wearing a dress with trees on it.

While Sheila is sure Johnny was intentional with his jab at her, she didn’t take the moment personally.

“I’m pretty sure he was pointing to my toes. But again, you know, it was supposed to be a fun show. You know, that’s probably not something I would have said. I did crack on that man’s head, but we hugged it out after the show. Like I said, we were supposed to poke fun at each other,” she explained.

In addition to this microaggression, fans of the original “Pop the Balloon” format have criticized the new rendition, accusing Netflix of whitewashing the YouTube series, which originally showcased predominantly Black contestants during its social media run.