Key Takeaway: Television personality and actress La La Anthony opens up about her journey from hip-hop radio to Hollywood stardom, her approach to dating in the spotlight, starring in Drake’s iconic music video, and her meaningful prison reform work in this revealing 360 With Speedy interview.
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Anecdote Highlights
Here are some of the most memorable moments from La La Anthony’s 360 With Speedy interview:
The DM Drama: La La reveals she became the first woman whose DM Speedy never replied to—and she wasn’t having it.
MTV Typecasting Struggles: Breaking out of the “La La from MTV” box took years of proving herself as a serious actress.
Sex Scene Awkwardness: She explains why intimate scenes are never “second nature” and how choreographed they really are.
Dating App Resistance: Despite friends’ success on Raya, La La has never tried dating apps and prefers keeping relationships private.
The Phone Meme Origin: The viral moment happened on the exact day she hoped nobody would see her looking disheveled.
Drake’s “Kiki” Role: La La became the star of one of Drake’s biggest music videos because their friendship allowed him to offer her a meaningful role rather than just “standing there.”
Prison Reform Passion: Her 360 program at Rikers Island shares the same name as Speedy’s show—an unexpected coincidence.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Soft Launch: A social media strategy where someone hints at a relationship without fully revealing their partner, often showing just an arm or partial view.
- Hard Launch: When a couple goes fully public with their relationship on social media, typically with clear photos together and official announcements.
- Intimacy Coordinator: A professional on film sets who ensures actors feel comfortable and safe during romantic or intimate scenes.
- VJ: Video Jockey, a television personality who introduced music videos on networks like MTV.
- Raya: An exclusive, membership-based dating app primarily used by celebrities, influencers, and creative professionals.
- Prison Reform: Efforts to improve conditions and outcomes in the criminal justice system, often focusing on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
- 360 Program: La La’s prison reform initiative at Rikers Island that provides mentorship, job training, and post-release support for young inmates.
The Great Rescheduling Drama
What happens when a professional like La La Anthony has to reschedule? The story reveals the importance of communication and the power of an unreturned DM.
La La had to reschedule her original interview due to an allergic reaction that left her unable to appear on camera. “I woke up that day with an allergic reaction to something. I was really sick,” she explained, noting that she called her publicist at 8am to reschedule professionally.
The twist came when she tried to reach out directly to Speedy. “My publicist, I asked her to get your number and she was told by your team that you don’t give your number out and you couldn’t give your number to me. And I was like, ‘What the f— is going on?’”
This led to La La sliding into Speedy’s DMs with a sincere apology message, which went unread for two weeks. “So you now take the crown as the only man in history who has not replied to a DM from me,” she revealed during the interview, making it clear this was a first for her.
From Hip-Hop Radio to MTV Stardom
How did La La Anthony transition from Atlanta radio to becoming an MTV icon? Her journey shows the power of being in the right place when opportunity calls.
La La’s career began with her love for music. “I just love music. And music was just my driving force behind my career. I’ve always been a hip-hop head to the 10th power.”
Her big break came unexpectedly while working radio in Los Angeles as a teenager. “I remember walking in and the receptionist was like, ‘Somebody from MTV called and said for you to call them.’ I’m like, ‘MTV?’”
The MTV opportunity was life-changing. “So I call back and they’re like, I want to bring you in for an audition because we’re working on a new show.” After the audition, they offered her a VJ position. “They call me and was like, we want you to move to New York and be, you know, a VJ on MTV. You got charisma, you’re cool, you’re everything we want.”
She started with Direct Effect alongside DJ Clue before moving to host TRL, MTV’s flagship show. “From there, they brought me over to start hosting TRL, which was like the big, big show for them. So I was like, ‘This is kind of crazy.’”
Breaking Out of the “MTV Girl” Box
What challenges did La La face transitioning from MTV personality to serious actress? Her experience reveals the difficulty of changing public perception in entertainment.
While La La remained grateful for MTV’s impact on her career, the typecasting became limiting. “MTV changed my life and people still talk about, ‘I watched you growing up, I grew up with you,’ which I’m so grateful for. But then it took so long to shake that off.”
The stereotyping affected her acting opportunities. “So when I was trying to transition into acting and all the other things I was doing, it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s La La from MTV. So, you’re going to put her in your movie? Like, is she going to play herself?’”
Casting directors often offered limiting roles. “They’re like, Oh, you can do a cameo, you’re La La from MTV, or you can be the host in the show, or here’s the mic, and you can be the DJ or whatever. And I’m like, that’s not what I’m trying to do.”
Breaking free required persistence. “So it took a lot of hard work and a long time to get out of that.”
The Reality of Intimate Scenes
How does La La Anthony handle romantic scenes as an actress? Her candid explanation reveals the professional reality behind Hollywood intimacy.
La La addressed misconceptions about sex scenes in television and film. “Doing a sex scene is never going to be second nature when it’s cameras and people just staring at you and you’re so vulnerable and you’re just like, this feels weird.”
She clarified what actually happens during filming. “I get asked all the time, ‘Oh, so are they really f—ing?’ And I’m like, what do you guys think? Like you really believe there’s just a band of people just going at it and they’re just recording? This is not a porno. This is scripted television.”
The process is highly choreographed. “Like if you were there to see it, you’ll be like, Okay, this is not as great as it looks. It’s kind of like, ‘Okay, put your hand there. All right, now move your hand up. All right, cut. Turn this way.’”
Despite professional support through intimacy coordinators, the experience remains challenging. “It’s very awkward. So your wish is to have a partner in the scene that is cool and patient and understanding so it doesn’t feel awkward. And I’ve been blessed to have great partners when I’ve done those scenes.”
Dating in the Spotlight
How does La La Anthony approach dating as a public figure? Her strategy focuses on privacy and timing when it comes to public relationships, including strategic “soft launches.”
When Speedy brought up a recent TikTok post where viewers spotted a man’s arm being pulled into the frame, La La played coy about the soft launch strategy. “So sometimes it’s nice to tease certain things. So sometimes it’s nice to [give] just a little peek, but not too much.”
La La believes in keeping relationships private initially. “I think it’s good to keep things private until you feel like you’re ready for the world to know about it. Any time the world gets involved too early, that’s when things get messy.”
She’s observed how public attention can damage new relationships. “A lot of times we get so excited when we meet somebody that it’s like, ‘I want to post. I want the world to know. I’m so into this.’ And then the comments come and the phone calls and then you’re like, ‘This just doesn’t feel as good as it did when we were keeping it private.’”
Her approach emphasizes caution. “I feel like there’s a lot of miserable people in the world. Everybody doesn’t want to see you happy. It’s just something that happens sometimes where it’s like, I don’t know, it just gets weird.”
When asked about dating apps, La La revealed she’s never tried them. “I have never been on a dating site. I’m not knocking it. I haven’t done it.” Even exclusive apps like Raya don’t appeal to her: “I have a lot of friends that are on Raya and some are super successful with the app and some not as successful.”
The Iconic Phone Meme Explained
What’s the real story behind La La’s viral phone moment at a basketball game? The truth is much simpler than internet speculation suggests.
The famous meme—which showed La La courtside holding up a FaceTime from her son Kiyan—occurred during a particularly hectic day for La La. “So I was in Chicago shooting The Chi, and I was running late because the scene went really long and I was just like, ‘I look crazy. I don’t even want to go to the game like this.’”
Despite her appearance concerns, she felt obligated to support her ex-husband. “But Melo was playing and I was like, I got to at least go support even if I get there at halftime or something like that. But in my mind I kept saying like, ‘ hope nobody sees me.’”
The viral moment was actually innocent. “So Kyan FaceTimed me and was like, ‘Mom, can I see if you can get dad’s attention?’ So I’m like doing this, but I’m looking around at the same time.”
La La clarified the misconceptions: “I wasn’t mad at Melo. I wasn’t saying something mean. It wasn’t that it was literally like, ‘Look at your son.’ And I’m like looking around at people and I’m just trying to show him the phone.”
Financial Success and Net Worth
How does La La Anthony view her reported $30 million net worth? Her perspective reveals gratitude while acknowledging the pressures of entertainment industry success.
When asked about Google’s $30 million net worth estimate, La La responded with characteristic honesty. “I don’t think it’s… It’s not spot on, but it’s also not ridiculously off either.”
She reflected on what financial security means to her. “I mean, it’s a great feeling. Money doesn’t solve everything, but it makes life easier in some ways. And for me, it’s also being able to take care of my family and the people I care about. That’s the greatest joy and what means the most to me out of being financially secure.”
However, she emphasized the ongoing pressure in entertainment. “But in this industry and what we do, you always got to stay one step ahead. You always got to figure out what’s next. You can never get complacent because just as quick as it comes, it can go.”
La La challenged the notion that money can’t buy happiness. “I think when people say it can’t, they’re lying. Even if you’re upset, if you’re sad, if you’re crying, you got a breakup or family stuff and you can have money and go on a trip and just get away or whatever, that’s not going to make the problem disappear. But it makes dealing with it a lot easier.”
She added an important caveat: “It can [help], but when you rely on it solely for your happiness, that’s when it goes left.”
Starring in Drake’s “In My Feelings” Video
How did La La Anthony become “Kiki” in one of Drake’s biggest music videos? The story reveals their genuine friendship and her selective approach to music videos.
La La’s relationship with Drake made the collaboration natural. “I mean, I love Drake. I’m a huge Drake fan and he’s a great friend. And I was like, yeah, this is cool. Like, Kiki, do you love me? That was a big, big deal back then.”
The opportunity aligned with her standards for video appearances. “I have been saying I wanted to do a video, but I wanted it to mean something, or be acting in a video, not just kind of like standing there or whatever.”
Drake’s personal approach made the difference. “So he’s like, ‘I think I got something for you.’ I was like, ‘What is it?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, this good.’”
The video’s massive success surprised even La La. “We had so much fun shooting that in New Orleans and people still talk about that video. Last I checked, I haven’t checked in a while, but I was like, I don’t remember the number, but it was something crazy. I was like, this video has like, I don’t know, it was like 400 million, something crazy.”
Prison Reform Work with 360
What drives La La Anthony’s passion for prison reform? Her 360 program reveals her commitment to helping young inmates rebuild their lives.
In a remarkable coincidence, La La’s prison reform program shares the same name as Speedy’s show. “360 is the name of my prison reform program that I do out of Rikers Island for young men ages 18 or 21. We help them while they’re incarcerated with everything they need from mentorship, job training.”
The program extends beyond incarceration. “And then when they come out, we try to get them jobs and whatever they need to get situated. But yes, it’s called 360, which is crazy.”
La La emphasized her dedication to the cause. “But I’m super passionate about 360 and the prison reform work we do.”
Quick Hits and Celebrity Connections
Drake Friendship: La La and Drake have a genuine friendship that led to her starring in his “In My Feelings” music video as “Kiki,” which became a massive cultural moment.
Son’s Dating Advice: Her son Kiyan thinks she should stop looking for men with “dark caesars and baldies,” though La La admits, “I don’t know where he got that from.”
Telemarketing Days: Before fame, La La worked various jobs including telemarketing, where “everybody hung up on me” and customers would say “Don’t f—ing call here anymore.”
Rapping Dreams: La La once wanted to be a rapper and had people write verses for her, saying, “I really thought that was going to be my career.”
Father’s Online Dating: Her father met his wife on PlentyOfFish.com, showing that online dating runs in the family—though she hasn’t tried it herself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did La La Anthony reschedule her first interview? La La had an allergic reaction that made her unable to appear on camera, calling her publicist at 8am to reschedule professionally.
How did La La Anthony get her MTV job? While working radio in LA as a teenager, MTV called her for an audition for a new show, leading to her VJ position and eventually hosting TRL.
Is La La Anthony on dating apps? No, she has never used dating sites or apps, including Raya, preferring to meet people naturally.
What’s the real story behind La La’s phone meme? She was showing her son Kiyan on FaceTime to get his father’s attention during a game, not making angry gestures as internet speculation suggested.
How much is La La Anthony worth? While her reported $30 million net worth isn’t “spot on,” she says it’s “not ridiculously off either.”
How did La La end up in Drake’s “In My Feelings” video? Drake personally asked her to play “Kiki” because of their friendship, and she agreed since the role had meaning beyond just standing around.
What is La La’s 360 prison reform program? It’s her initiative at Rikers Island providing mentorship, job training, and post-release job placement for young inmates aged 18-21.
Does La La find intimate scenes difficult? Yes, she says sex scenes are “never going to be second nature” and are “very awkward” despite being highly choreographed with intimacy coordinators present.
About 360 With Speedy
360 With Speedy is a long-form conversation series hosted by Speedy Morman that explores never-before-heard stories from musicians, actors, and celebrities. The show focuses on revealing the keys to success in an ever-changing entertainment industry through candid, in-depth interviews that go beyond typical celebrity conversations.
This interview showcases why La La Anthony remains one of the most compelling figures in entertainment—her willingness to share genuine experiences while building meaningful projects that help others.
Watch the full episode here: