12 Etiquette Tips from Empire’s Cookie Lyon
Forget Emily Post and Miss Manners, those heifers are from some other dusty time. There are new rules to follow and they come courtesy of Empire’s Cookie Lyon so listen up.
- Before calling on someone, give prior notice of your arrival: Talking to yourself in the third person with “Cookie’s coming home,” is perfectly acceptable.
- When in doubt, understated classic style will see you through. A skintight animal print ensemble accompanied by white fur and gold door knocker earrings is a good bet.
- When visiting someone’s home, give a proper greeting. It’s okay to stand on the street and shout, “Let me in! Let me in!”
- Discreetly let your host know if you have any special needs. Just holler something like, “Y’all better have an elevator up in here, my feet hurt.”
- Acknowledge your host’s efforts, but don’t gush. “For a queen you sure keep a messy place” is acceptable.
- Meeting someone new? Make a pleasant introduction. Something along the lines of “You didn’t tell me you were dating a Little Mexican” will break the ice. You can follow it up with a La Cucaracha comment.
- Table manners are key. It’s perfectly acceptable to give obvious side-eye to the food when you find out the chicken is stewed not fried. Also grab the food with your hands and start eating before it’s served.
- Treat assistants with respect. Barging past them and suggesting that they get their ass out of the way makes a good impression.
- Different cultures have different business customs. A term of endearment such “Boo Boo Kitty” works well, especially when accompanied by some severe side-eye.
- Finds subtle ways to get someone’s attention. Sometimes a simple clearing of the throat works or you can take a broom and beat their ass with it.
- Boardroom situations call for formality. Saunter in after the meeting has started and invite colleagues to: “kiss [your] black ass.” As for attire, stick to the classics: fur, animal print and lots of gold. It’s your signature look.
- When leaving, be sure to return anything you borrowed and say good-bye to your host. Turning in that orange jumpsuit and flashing a peace sign as you walk away will suffice.
Elaine is the chief editor of TV Recappers' Delight. She's an experienced entertainment reporter, reviewer, editor, blogger, columnist and Bon Vivant.