Viola Davis Refutes Story That She Purchased Plantation Home Where She Was Born

BY Erika Marie 4.0K Views
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Viola Davis, Plantation, South Carolina, Birthday
The actress came forward to clarify her IG post after reports surface that she'd bought the home as a birthday gift for herself.

A celebratory birthday post for herself has caused Viola Davis to clarify a few of her words. A story ran rampant yesterday (August 11) that the How to Get Away With Murder actress purchased the house she was birthed in. The run-down home is seated on a former plantation in South Carolina. "The above is the house where I was born August 11, 1965. It is the birthplace of my story. Today on my 55th year of life....I own it....all of it," the actress wrote. "May you live long enough to know why you were born. -Cherokee Birth Blessing."

John Phillips / Stringer / Getty Images

Soon, outlets spun tales of how Viola was able to come full circle and purchase the plantation, but she's stepped forward to clarify that those reports aren't true. "Uhh....contrary to websites....I do not 'own' above house, I 'own' my STORY!! Too abstract I guess," she wrote. Years ago, Viola shared with PEOPLE that her grandfather was a sharecropper on the plantation and her family lived there.

“I went back to visit briefly, but still not aware of the history," said Viola back in 2016. "I think I read one slave narrative of someone who was on that plantation, which was horrific. One hundred and sixty acres of land and my grandfather was a sharecropper. Most of my uncles and cousins, they’re farmers. That’s the choice that they had. And my grandmother’s house was a one-room shack. I have a picture of it on my phone because I think it’s a beautiful picture." Check out her post below.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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