WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Charmed Season 3, Episode 8, "O, The Tangled Web," which aired Sunday on The CW.
In Charmed's previous episode, Macy decides she's going to make SafeSpace as inclusive as possible while she's its CEO. Although Season 3, Episode 7 saw Macy triumphing over the Shea Group -- finding a way to keep a free community health clinic in SafeSpace -- its latest episode saw the repercussions of her challenging the group's authority.
"O, The Tangled Web" introduces Macy to Lori Brewster, the Shea Group's Head of Communications, who not only violates Macy's personal space -- like touching her curls without asking -- but she also subjects her to a racist outburst, calling security on her. Although Macy is escorted out, she doesn't leave the building without calling Lori's racism out.
Macy arrives at the board's headquarters, readied to help the group with its global "Give Back" campaign. Offscreen, she's told that her clinic initiative got their attention. Macy believes she's going into a meeting to bring ideas for how SafeSpace can help with philanthropic initiatives. However, when she arrives at the Shea Group's building, she finds herself in the middle of a surprise photoshoot. There, she meets Lori who informs Macy that she was selected to be a Shea Group spokesperson and to lead the company's campaign to "End Malaria."
Although she's initially taken aback, Macy voices excitement to take part in the campaign, since she is a scientist and does know a lot about malaria from her time working in a lab. Lori then tells Macy that she's going to be the face of the campaign and does so by complimenting her skin color and touching her hair -- a microaggression that shocks Macy wordless.
However, Lori's ill-treatment of Macy, unfortunately, does not end there. Handpicked by Lori, Macy's outfit is designed with an animal-print scheme, is tight-fitting and comes with a big cat-like necklace, invoking a problematic 'jungle-like' theme to how she expects Macy to present herself for the company's campaign. Deeply uncomfortable, Macy changes into a blouse and long skirt -- an outfit that was on the rack of possible choices -- instead. When Lori learns of this, she chastises Macy for not asking her permission first to change her look.
While Macy is allowed to stay in the outfit she'd prefer to be photographed in, Macy's confidence in the project is shattered when she sees the photo she's expected to stand in front of for the duration of the photoshoot. The photo background for the "End Malaria" campaign is a collage of African children. Stunned, Macy points out to Lori that this isn't an accurate reflection of the disease -- which is an issue worldwide, present in several communities and affects those of all class levels, ethnicities and age groups.
Lori takes this critique personally and accuses Macy of trying to tell her how to do her job. When Macy asks how many PoC are on the Shea Group board, Lori warns Macy to "not take one step closer" to her, even though she wasn't physically confronting her at all. Quickly, Lori escalates the situation by calling security on Macy and having her escorted from the building.
Although Macy leaves the headquarter's crying out of rage for the inappropriate and traumatic behavior of Lori, she vows to her fellow sisters that she won't back down from calling out the group's racist behavior. She informs The Charmed Ones that SafeSpace is in danger of being sold due to stocks dropping after Julian's death. However, she insists she won't let the group take away their home and community without a fight. To which Mel replies, "fight the power," leading Macy to promise that she will do all she can to save SafeSpace.
Charmed stars Sarah Jeffery, Madeleine Mantock, Melonie Diaz, Rupert Evans, Jordan Donica and Poppy Drayton. New episodes air on The CW on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
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