Sunday night, I posted my thoughts on Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show.

A show that wasn’t designed to be universally understood. A show that wasn’t centered around whiteness. A show that required looking deeper.

And that post? It went viral. 

Over 600,000 views on Threads alone. Thousands of comments.

And with virality came everything - the praise, the pushback, the gratitude, the backlash, the deep engagement, and the dismissive hostility.

This isn’t just about a halftime show.

It’s about leadership. 

It’s about what happens when you say the thing that needs to be said, even when you know people won’t like it.

Speaking Up When You Know Pushback Is Coming 

Leadership isn’t about sitting comfortably at the head of the table, nodding along.

It’s about holding your ground when the room gets tense. 

•  It’s advocating for a different approach in a meeting where the majority disagrees.
•  It’s naming the issue no one wants to talk about.
•  It’s calling attention to something that’s being ignored.
•  It’s not about being “right” - it’s about shifting the conversation toward something real.

And lemme tell you: this sh*t is hard. 

Even when you know you’re on solid ground, even when you want to speak up, the fear creeps in. 

• What if they don’t get it?
• What if they’re mad?
• What if they tear me apart for saying it?

And if you don’t feel like you’re on solid ground? Multiply that by 100.

So much of leadership isn’t about knowing the right words, it’s about having the guts to say them anyway.

What Going Viral Taught Me About Leading Through Discomfort 

Here’s what I learned from over half a million eyeballs on my words - and what it means for you:

1. People Will Get Uncomfortable. That’s Not a Reason to Stay Quiet. 

Not everyone was ready for what I said.

Some people outright dismissed it. Some were confused. Some were mad.

But discomfort is key to change. 

Kendrick Lamar’s performance wasn’t designed for comfort, it was designed to say something. 

Your leadership should be, too.

If you’re only leading in a way that keeps people comfortable, you’re not leading.

2. Clarity Is Your Best Friend. 

The people who got the message? They got it. 

Because I didn’t hedge. I didn’t soften it to make it easier to digest.

I said exactly what I meant:

•  Most media is centered around whiteness.
•  If something isn’t, and you don’t understand it, that doesn’t make it bad.
•  Instead of dismissing it, look deeper. 

When you’re speaking up in high-stakes conversations, clarity is everything. 

•  State your position. Clearly. Directly. No fluff.
•  Trust your audience. The people who are ready to hear it will hear it.
•  Let the discomfort happen. Your job is to manage your own reaction, not theirs.

3. The Backlash Isn’t About You. 

When people lash out, it’s not about you. 

It’s about their own discomfort. Their defensiveness. Their need to protect their worldview.

If I took every negative comment personally, I’d never speak up again.

And isn’t that exactly how systems of oppression thrive? 

By convincing people who have something to say to shut up and stay quiet?

We are done letting oppressive systems keep us quiet.

Being a leader means knowing you can handle whatever comes your way - even if it’s other people’s anger.

The key isn’t avoiding it. The key is knowing how to hold your ground without letting it silence you.

How This Applies to You (And Your Leadership) 

Maybe you’re not going viral on Threads. Maybe you’re not speaking on a public stage.

But I promise you - there are conversations you know you need to have. 

•  The one where you advocate for something you believe in at work.
•  The one where you set a boundary in your personal life.
•  The one where you say the thing that needs to be said, even if it feels messy. 

You can keep avoiding them.

Or you can step into your leadership and say it. 

Not because it’s easy.

Because it’s necessary.

Because the impact you want to have? The success you want to create? The kind of leader you want to be?

It’s on the other side of the conversations you’ve been avoiding.

Your Next Step 

If you’re ready to stop biting your tongue in the moments that matter, I can help you get there. 

•  To say the thing without spiraling after.
•  To hold your ground without bracing for impact.
•  To handle the pushback without second-guessing yourself.

That’s what I do.

If you’re done avoiding the conversations that actually change things, let’s talk.

Book a consult call with me, and let’s make a plan for you to lead with unapologetic confidence.

Email me at [email protected] to schedule your call. 

The world needs your voice. Let’s make sure you know how to use it. 

With you,

Amy