Tina Fey told me I was a 'diversity' hire on '30 Rock'

Donald Glover claims Tina Fey told him that he was only hired as a writer on 30 Rock thanks to NBCs diversity initiative. The comedian, also known by his rapper moniker Childish Gambino, landed his first breakthrough writing job on the hit sitcom in 2006 when he was 23 years old.

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Donald Glover claims Tina Fey told him that he was only hired as a writer on “30 Rock” thanks to NBC’s diversity initiative.

The comedian, also known by his rapper moniker Childish Gambino, landed his first breakthrough writing job on the hit sitcom in 2006 when he was 23 years old.

While he brought his own ideas to the table, Glover says the network introduced a diversity incentive at the time that allowed shows to hire black writers without it reflecting the budget.

“It was a diversity thing,” Glover told GQ in April’s cover story. “There is no animosity between us or anything like that, but [Tina Fey] said it herself.”

“The last two people who were fighting for the job were me and Kenya Barris. I didn’t know it was between me and him until later,” he added.

He told the magazine that the “Black-ish” creator said he “hated” Glover “for years.”

Donald Glover appears in an episode for ’30 Rock,’ as he wrote for the Emmy Award-winning show for three years. IMDb

Glover wrote for the Emmy Award-winning show for three years.

“It definitely didn’t feel like I was supposed to be there,” the “This is America” singer said.

“I used to have stress dreams every night where I was doing cartwheels on the top of a New York skyscraper with the other writers watching me.”

Donald Glover said he brought his own ides to the table, but the network introduced a diversity incentive at the time that allowed shows to hire black writers without taking a toll on the budget. Quantrell D. Colbert

The Post has reached out to Fey’s reps for comment.

The “Redbone” hitmaker previously opened up about his experience of working on the hit sitcom.

In a 2018 New Yorker profile, the entertainer said he began to wonder if he was “being hired just because I’m black.”

According to the outlet, Fey confirmed that “the answer was in large part yes; she admired Glover’s talent but hired him because funds from NBC’s Diversity Initiative ‘made him free.'”

Donald Glover was a writer for the hit sitcom “30 Rock” which starred Tina Fey. Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP

“30 Rock” ran from Oct. 11, 2006, until its final episode on Jan. 31, 2013.

The hit NBC show centered around Fey’s character Liz Lemon, who is the head writer for a popular TV show, likened to Saturday Night Live.

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