Mindy Kaling’s Woke ‘Velma’ Makes History For Its Dismal Reviews

Creator and actress Mindy Kaling has made history for her woke Scooby-Doo spin-off “Velma” — but certainly not in the way she expected.

The HBO Max show, as highlighted by The Daily Wire, has absolutely bombed on the review-aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. And now it’s landed the number three spot on IMBd’s list of worst-rated shows of all time.

While only four episodes of “Velma” have aired so far, the show has already racked up more than 41,000 1-star reviews. On the flip side, it’s earned a mere 1,688 10-star reviews as of Tuesday morning.

IMBd

Screenshot: IMBd

Kaling’s “Velma” is only behind “The Pogmentary” and “Iste Bu Benim Masalim” on the worst-rated IMBd list, while “A Little Late with Lilly Singh” and “Santa Inc.” are behind “Velma” to round out the top five.

The show’s negative reviews are all over the place, though they all agree it completely misses the mark. Some slam Kaling for going full-woke and constantly focusing on race, sexuality, and gender, while others are incensed about how far-removed the show is from the classic “Scooby-Doo.”

And it’s even worse for Kaling, who strived for woke applause. Some reviews on the IMBd page actually slam the creator of the show for its apparent racism and sexism.

“The jokes aren’t funny. It’s not cool. It’s not hip. It’s the opposite. It’s majorly offensive. Offensive for two reasons,” one review reads. “One for how terrible it is and it is really bottom of the barrel terrible, and two for its obvious sexism and racism. What an absolute insult, really, to anyone with half a shred of respectability. I’m just staggered that this even exists.”

Another high-ranking review on the IMBd page highlights the bizarre sexual aspects of the show.

“This was atrocious. I watched the entire first episode and did not laugh once. Not even a chuckle. The jokes were so juvenile, so heavy handed and the premise so far removed from the original IP, it was embarrassing,” the review slams, adding, “Why is this series about sex and what does any of the random sexual situations have to do with Scooby Doo? I also don’t know, nor care. Speaking of which, where is Scooby and Shaggy? … Personally, I feel like HBO and Mindy Kaling owe everyone an apology for this abomination of a series.”

Notably, before the show even aired, Kaling made it a point to emphasize that the main animated character, Velma, would be South Asian.

“Hopefully you noticed my Velma is South Asian,” Kaling said last year to a crowd of fans. “If people freak out about that, I don’t care.”

Related: Mindy Kaling Announces Her ‘Scooby-Doo’ Velma Character Is South Asian, Says ‘If People Freak Out About That, I Don’t Care’

‘I Am Blessed’: GOP Rep. Gives Health Update After Fall Landed Him In ICU

Congressman Greg Steube (R-FL) shared an update on his health on Monday after a fall from a ladder outside his Sarasota, Florida, home resulted in a trip to the Intensive Care Unit.

Steube was knocked from the ladder last Wednesday and fell 25 feet to the ground. The congressman was rushed to the hospital after someone witnessed the fall and dialed 911, bringing first responders to the scene.

After four days at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Steube tweeted a photo of himself at home, still wearing a stabilizing brace around his neck, on a couch with his dogs — and he shared how his recovery was going.

“I am blessed to have a great support team in my wife Jennifer as well as numerous friends and family, including the Steube pups,” he tweeted on Monday afternoon. “Grateful for everyone’s prayers and well-wishes as I recover from a fractured pelvis, a punctured lung, and several torn ligaments in my neck.”

I am blessed to have a great support team in my wife Jennifer as well as numerous friends and family, including the Steube pups!

Grateful for everyone’s prayers and well-wishes as I recover from a fractured pelvis, a punctured lung, and several torn ligaments in my neck. pic.twitter.com/zQBtsWZPo0

— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) January 24, 2023

Steube went on to say that his recovery was likely to keep him out of Washington, D.C., for awhile — but that he planned to stay as connected and involved as he could during his convalescence.

“While I will be sidelined in Sarasota for several weeks, I will be carrying out as many of my congressional duties as possible,” he added. “And our D.C. and district staff continue to be readily available to assist Floridians in FL-17.”

I’m eager to rejoin my colleagues in Washington as soon as possible!

— Congressman Greg Steube (@RepGregSteube) January 24, 2023

“I’m eager to rejoin my colleagues in Washington as soon as possible!” he concluded.

Despite Steube’s absence, Fox News reported on Monday that newly-elected House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had been in touch with Steube to inform him of his committee assignment: the Florida lawmaker is set to serve on the new Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

While Steube will likely be able to participate in some of his duties from home, the new rules adopted by the Republican-controlled House have put an end to proxy voting and virtual hearings — meaning that the congressman will not be able to cast a vote or fully participate in hearings until he recovers enough to return to Capitol Hill.