Gabourey Sidibe recently addressed Kathy Hilton nearly four years after the reality star confused her with Lizzo. During an August 2022 episode of Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Hilton incorrectly identified a photo of Lizzo as Sidibe while playing the game “Will Kathy Know Them?”
When shown Lizzo’s picture, Hilton, 66, guessed, “Is that Precious?”—a reference to Sidibe’s Oscar-nominated role in the 2009 film Precious. After audience discomfort and host Andy Cohen’s laughter, Hilton clarified, “That’s, like, what I call her. Her nickname’s Precious to me.” Former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Crystal Kung Minkoff attempted to mitigate the moment by adding, “She is precious, though. Lizzo is precious.”
Sidibe, 42, discussed the incident on Wednesday’s One54 podcast, recalling, “That was weird because I have been to that lady’s house and had a meeting with her.” She noted the broader issue: “I’ve been confused for many a Black fat woman. And it’s always weird and tinged with racism.” Sidibe found it particularly strange given her prior interaction with Hilton, who had once expressed interest in dressing her. “You oughta know my real name,” Sidibe added, referencing Hilton’s use of “Precious.”
Hilton initially apologized on social media, explaining her “vision is awful” and that she struggled to recognize other celebrities during the segment. An insider later told E! News she felt “terrible” about the mistake, emphasizing Hilton’s nervousness on live TV and that she “would never intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings.” Hilton’s representatives did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.