Not even in “Hotlanta” will money solve all of your problems, but it definitely takes the burden off of most of ‘em. It’s no secret finances remains a touchy subject in the Black community, and one content creator detailed how a different financial outlook can make or break a relationship.
Comedian Kountry Wayne’s characters Dalen, a hard-working businessman (that’s all we know) is dating Brittany, a woman who has established herself as a successful lawyer. One skit, which has more than 95,000 views on YouTube and 92,000 views on TikTok, lays out a prickly scenario that many Black women and men are familiar.
Brittany is clearly used to the finer things in life and expects Dalen to step up his car and clothes to match her fly, but Dalen emotionally struggles to do so. After spending hours checking out cars that cost the equivalent of a house note, and deciding not to purchase over his means, Dalen meets up with Brittany, who is clearly disappointed.
“Why would I put myself in a financial position just to please other people?” asks Dalen, who happens to be the pretty-faced best friend of no-good, very rich — and cheating — Anthony.
Just a little more background: Brittany is the best friend of Amber, the materialistic-very-annoying-slow minded and downtrodden wife of Anthony. Oh, and Anthony got Amber’s other bestie, the man-eating-devilish-and-weirdly-likeable Shayla, pregnant.
Here’s a quick aside: In a brilliant move on Kountry Wayne’s part, the flawed and glowingly-beautiful Shayla has a whole bunch of fans rooting for her and hoping she ends up with either Anthony, who she shares magnetic, crazy sexual chemistry or her new boo, Michael. The latter is giving Anthony a run for his money because ultra gorgeous-and-teddy-bear Michael Bless is the only man who has treated Shayla with the deep love and quiet, beautiful romance she so craves.
Back to Dalen and Brittany. The two came together to help their friends Anthony and Amber through a rocky marriage but discovered they actually liked each other. Unlike like Porsche-driving Anthony, Dalen cares nothing about fancy things.
“Why do you care so much about liabilities?” he asked Brittany, who, by the way, drives a raggedy car not unlike Dalen’s.
On TikTok many praised Dalen for speaking his mind and telling Brittany exactly what it is. User @magdalenejames14 said “Dalen I am soo proud of you for standing your ground, there is someone for you.”
@OGCApparelCo wrote “You said it…let that liability walk out your life.”
In the words of Beyoncé, Brittany was just trying to “upgrade” Dalen, but in the end, the two parted ways after Dalen realized he was only spending money to try to impress Brittany instead of building with her. In response to Dalen, Brittany said she’s “focused on children and building too. I’m just used to someone who can build and who also can drive something nice.” She continued, And that’s just want I want.”
The skit is picking up a lot of attention online from men and women who either relate to Dalen or who see where Brittany was coming from. Under the video, @landrypatin replied “She did him a favor keep it moving Dalen.”
Another user, @AmelieBelain, said “Forget a bullet, my boy dodged a damn cruise missile.”
@ochofive said, “She ain’t break up with him. He gave her the signal that it ain’t gone work haha.”
One user, @dhyskirt756, called Brittany way too money-oriented saying “Keep it moving dalen, she’s too materialistic !!”
This brings up an important question: What’s better, spending your hard earned money on what you want or saving and stacking you money for your future? According to a study conducted by Pew Research, 65 percent of Black adults define financial success as having enough money to do whatever the hell they want with it.
On the flip side, the same study found only 44 percent define success as being able to pass down financial assets through generations. Black Americans are ranked as some of the top consumers in this country, but somehow we lack the wealth in comparison to white folks.
Kountry Wayne might argue it’s because we’re focused on spending money too quickly without investing it into the future. And that’s why secretly we are hoping Dalen is a millionaire next door who will walk away (just like “tiny head” Brittany did to him) once ole’ girl comes running back for another chance once she finds out he has bank.
