Terri J. Vaughn's 'She the People' is One of the Most Important Netflix Comedies of 2025

Terri J. Vaughn is entering her boldest era yet with one of the most anticipated debut shows of 2025. The veteran actress, producer, and creative powerhouse is stepping away from beloved sitcom stardom into full-blown showrunner with She the People, a political comedy that blends cultural commentary, laugh-out-loud chaos, and real-life inspiration into a sharp, culture-soaked comedy that’s as raw as it is real. Premiering May 22 on Netflix under Tyler Perry’s expanding first-look deal, She the People is poised to shift the landscape of what Black-led political storytelling can look like.

“I watched my friend London Breed become the mayor of San Francisco,” Vaughn tells Bleu. “And I just kept thinking, why haven’t we told this story yet—from our point of view? That was the spark.”

That spark lit the fuse for She the People, a concept Vaughn began developing eight years ago. But the road to this moment stretches back even further, as this journey of building credibility, pitching ideas, and carving out space for creative ownership in Hollywood started 20 years ago.

Now, after years of hard work and persistence, that early idea has transformed into a full-fledged series set to make its mark. She the People follows Antoinette Dunkerson, a newly elected lieutenant governor in Mississippi, as she navigates office politics, a wildly condescending governor, and the relentless spotlight placed on her and her family now that she’s a public figure.

On the creative side, She the People is powered by women who’ve lived the worlds they’re writing about. Vaughn brought on Niya Palmer to co-create and tapped former mayor of Atlanta and Biden advisor Keisha Lance Bottoms to ground the show’s political edge and give viewers real insight into this world. According to Vaughn, Bottoms added a sense of authenticity to the project as she’s “been in the trenches” and her insights made everything feel real. Tyler Perry, who writes, directs, and produces the series, gave Vaughn’s team the reins, empowering them to shape the project on their terms.

“Tyler was like, ‘Go do your thing,’” she recalls. “He believed in us from day one, and that meant everything.”

But this series, Vaughn emphasizes, isn’t just about politics. At its heart, She the People is about the lived experience of a Black woman trying to balance ambition and identity in the public eye.

“It’s about being a Black woman in a high-profile position, trying to do right by your community, by your family, and still finding time to figure yourself out in the process,” Vaughn explains.

Bringing She the People to life meant more than writing a sharp script—it meant building a world that felt lived-in, honest, and electric. For that, Vaughn knew the importance of assembling a cast that could truly elevate the material.

Joining her on screen is a team that fires on all cylinders: singer-comedian Jade Novah, known for her viral Beyoncé impressions; This Is Us alum Drew Olivia Tillman; rising star Tré Boyd; comedian Dyon Brooks; and TV legend Jo Marie Payton, who delivers a scene-stealing turn as Antoinette’s candid, cigar-smoking mother.

“We had that magic,” Vaughn says of their chemistry. “You can’t fake this kind of harmony, especially with Jo Marie—people have never seen her in a role like this.”

Though the vision was clear, the road to get there wasn’t easy. After years of pitching different versions of the show, a turning point came during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, when Vaughn was forced to put her directing work on hold. She ended up reaching out to co-creator Niya Palmer with a simple proposal: “Let’s just shoot it.” With no studio backing, no big budget, just a tight-knit crew and a vision they refused to let go of, the resulting proof-of-concept didn’t just make waves—it opened doors.

As soon as the strike lifted, Netflix came knocking on the door and expressed serious interest. For Vaughn, who had spent two decades chasing greenlights, the shift was monumental as this was the first time in her two-decade career that companies pitched to her instead of it being the other way around. Tyler Perry soon signed on, and with recent Netflix successes like The Six Triple Eight and Beauty in Black drawing massive viewership, She the People feels like a natural next step in his slate of culturally resonant storytelling.

The series delivers humor, but it doesn’t shy away from the weight of its subject matter. Antoinette's story is as much about political chaos as it is about the emotional toll of being constantly seen and second-guessed. Vaughn calls it a story about “Black existence—how we survive, thrive, and laugh through it all.” It’s a show that embraces vulnerability and defiance in equal measure.

That duality echoes through Vaughn’s own career. After breaking out as Lovita Alizay Jenkins on The Steve Harvey Show, a role that earned her three NAACP Image Awards, she went on to star in cult-classic films like Friday and Don’t Be a Menace. Her more recent work includes Cherish the Day, First Wives Club, and We Stay Looking, the Webby-winning scripted podcast from HBO and Raedio, where she voiced the beloved Rose Cranberry.

Vaughn believes in building community, a mindset that led her to launch Nina Holiday Entertainment, a production company championing fresh narratives, and the Take Wings Foundation, which mentors young women in at-risk communities. “With Nina Holiday, it was really about telling stories that mattered — stories that centered us,” Vaughn explains. “And with Take Wings, it’s about mentorship. I wanted to give back, to show young girls that they could dream bigger and that there were people rooting for them.”

Vaughn was deliberate in casting rising talent and creating space for new voices — notably Jade Novah, whose background in music and online comedy brings a sharp, rhythmic precision to her on-screen delivery. Vaughn says Novah's comedic timing "lights up the screen," and describes her dynamic with co-star Dyon Brooks as "electric," marked by a strong and compelling on-screen chemistry.

The commitment to realness extends behind the scenes as well, with many of the writers on Vaughn’s team bringing backgrounds in political organizing and activism — a credibility that audiences are already responding to. Even in early screenings, the show struck a chord with women in politics, flooding Vaughn’s inbox with messages.

“We weren’t just writing jokes—we were channeling lived experience,” Vaughn says. “State senators, school board members—women telling me they see themselves in this story, that’s when I knew we had something powerful.”

With the show wrapping just before former Vice President Kamala Harris received Vaughn’s endorsement for president last year, the timing couldn’t be more aligned. For her, the moment isn’t just about the show—it’s about legacy.

“We were writing about a powerful Black woman navigating politics, and then reality just met us there,” Vaughn says. “We’ve waited long enough. We’re not just asking for a seat anymore, we want to build the whole table.”

As the May 22 Netflix premiere of She the People approaches, Vaughn hopes the series leaves a lasting impact where viewers can laugh, connect with the story and characters, and most importantly have healing conversations with one another.

“I carry the voices of those before me and those who come after, from my grandmother to my daughter. Being on a global platform amplifies that, and I feel ready for it,” says Vaughn.“I just pray everyone watches and enjoys it.”