Tylynn Burns wants a legacy of her own beyond ‘Sweet Life’
Tylynn Burns, one of the stars of Issa Rae’s “Sweet Life: Los Angeles,” is intent on creating her own legacy — and giving back to her family, particularly her father, who has been incarcerated since she was 4 months old.
“Generational wealth is just not really a thing that much in the Black community,” Burns, 26, said. “So for me, I’ll probably be the first one to provide resources and funding for people in my family. That’s super, super pivotal and important to me.”
Leola Westbrook, showrunner on the unscripted series, said, “The story about her dad did not come out until we had spoken to her. I remember the question I asked. I said, ‘Can you please tell me why you’re doing this? What drives you?’
“She said, ‘I’m about legacy building, I want to build a legacy for myself. … Because when my dad gets out of jail in 2029, I want to provide for him in the same way he provided for me, which caused him to go to jail in the first place.’ ”
Burns, a 2017 graduate of the University of Oregon, is the founder of a boutique event-planning agency, House Party Creative. She’s also part of a friend group of 20-something Black Angelenos who navigate life, love and careers Thursdays on HBO Max.
Inspired by BET’s “Baldwin Hills” and reminiscent of Rae’s own friends, “Sweet Life” offers a nuanced inside look at Black adulthood, friendship and family.
This interview with Burns has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: Did you watch series such as “Baldwin Hills,” “Laguna Beach” or “The Hills”? Could you relate to any cast members?
A: I was definitely a “Baldwin Hills” girl . ... I related to them because they were young Black people, but I think our show is down-to-earth people who are on the rise and don’t come from super-rich families. We do come from privileged situations, but a lot of us have gone through things that I don’t think most people have gone through.
Q: What compelled you to share your father’s story and your connection to him?
A: This whole experience is bigger than me, so sharing that was (more) to connect with the audience that could relate to me. I didn’t really think twice about sharing that, honestly, because I’ve grown up with that all my life. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed or anything. It was just really easy for me to share that part of me and to also connect with my dad at a different level; we got closer in the process because I had to talk to him more and just understand his story.
Q: What do you hope people glean from the show and your story?
A: I want people to understand that Black people and our experiences are super dynamic. The show glorifies the pretty parts of being young, Black and successful, but there are a lot of things that we’ve gone through, that we’re still going through, that might not be showcased. Have an open mind and an open heart. We don’t always get it right, especially not in the TV world and on camera. I just really want the audience to be sympathetic and really empathetic to the Black people who are putting their stories, their characters, their morals on the line for everyone’s entertainment.
Q: How would you describe your role in the friend group?
A: I’m more of the nucleus. On the show, it seems like I’m pretty motherly, but my friends take care of me a lot. Emotionally, my friends are my backbone. When it comes down to (maintaining) the balance and structure, making sure that we are as close as we can be at all times, and have clear and open communication, that’s the kind of friend that I am. I always want to have a good time, so I’m not about to let some insignificant moment tarnish that or our relationships.