Ray ‘Misster Ray’ Cunningham serves up shady realness with ‘Reality Wraps’

WEtv
WE tv

Meet Ray “Mister Ray” Cunningham. You know his name. After nabbing a coveted spot on BET’s “College Hill: Virginia State University,” the bubbly personality went on to earn his BA in mass communications, prior to making a name for himself as a highly sought after digital corespondent.

In the years since his reality TV debut, Cunningham has made his mark as an award-winning entertainment editor and blogger. His credits include working with NY-based men’s lifestyle publication Bleu Magazine, several guest appearances on “The Dr. Phil Show” alongside Hill Harper and the Rev. Al Sharpton, as well as being featured as a celebrity blogger for Global Grind. You may even recognize his face from appearing on BET’s hit show, “The Game.” In other words, things are rolling.


Now, serving as the face of WE tv’s “Reality Wraps,” Cunningham serves up a healthy helping of “playful shade,” while highlighting the best moments from some of our favorite WE tv reality shows like “LA Hair,” “Braxton Family Values” and “SWV: Reunited.” And he knows his stuff. In fact, Cunningham picked up a big win at the 2015 Cynopsis Media Model D Awards for Best New Web Series.

Recently, rolling out had the opportunity to catch up with Misster Ray, who dished about becoming BET’s first ever openly gay on-air personality, 2015’s juiciest reality TV moments and much more. Check out what he had to say below.


Why reality TV? I like reality TV because it is your first reaction with no filter. You know, I always tell people “I’m your gay best friend in your head with no filter.” So, I love that reality TV … well most of the commentary, is unscripted. You can’t go back for a do-over.

You know, America is so serious right now and most are so conservative. Reality TV at least allows us to live life, be a rebel and let loose, because it’s your genuine first reaction to what’s going on.

As BET’s first openly gay reality star, what was your experience coming out? I will definitely say this. Gay going into 2016 is far more celebrated than when I came out, when it was more so just tolerated.

When “College Hill” first premiered, they promoted me as someone who was living an alternate lifestyle. It wasn’t until much later, when the show aired and I became a fan favorite, that BET pushed me as the first ever openly gay on-air personality in the history of the network.

I’ll say this; I felt like I was tolerated. Versus now, even though it’s celebrated. I feel like it’s an agenda. Like “OK, we have to include one of them … so let’s assign one and put him on there and be done.” Versus this guy has a star personality, let him share his story and inspire somebody. Now I feel like people are just looking to fill the social quota.

What advice would you give aspiring Internet stars on finding their lane? I would definitely say this, because everybody wants a brand or to push a product, to find one thing to focus on per season or per year.

I love Kandi [Burruss]. She’s actually inspired me to do some things. Every season on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” she uses her platform to promote a new business.

If you come out trying to do 50 million things, people don’t know where to focus in on you. Is he doing this? Is he doing that? Is he still doing this? Focus on one thing at a time. Master it. Then move on to the next thing.

Now let’s rewind a bit and talk about your WE tv Web series “Reality Wraps.” What would you say were the top three reality TV moments of 2015?

1. I would definitely say Tamar, this is my last scene last moment, on “Braxton Family Values,” when she was ready to quit the show.
2. When Claudia Jordan read NeNe Leakes. Oh, that was intense. Nobody comes for NeNe like that. Nobody!
3. Caitlyn Jenner was also big. For you to come out on television and then tell your family. That was crazy. You know, we all saw pictures but at that time everyone was like “oh, that’s just a rumor.” But then it was filmed and aired; I don’t think they even said what they really wanted to. Their brand doesn’t allow for them to be frustrated. They’re you know … a unit. I have a hard time believing everyone was OK with it. Even Bruce, who barely wanted to interact with the cameras on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” It was definitely very interesting to watch.

What’s next? As far as “Reality Wraps,” we have The Realies coming up. Coming off of two wins at this year’s Cynopsis Media Model D Awards for Best New Web Series we felt we had to do something epic to say what an awesome year WE tv has had with its original programming! Instead of the typical top 10 countdown, we thought it would fun to categorize the top moments into various categories and make a fun awards show! [Vote here]

I’m going to be doing a lot more television appearances in terms of entertainment correspondence. I think I’m retired from reality TV. I like this transition. I seem to do better when I don’t plan things. I know that’s horrible to say. But you know how you make plans and then God says he has something else going on? And he’s told me that more than one time this year. — I’m not interested in exposing something I’ve already dealt with … I’m not interested in exposing someone else.

I have a family, which you see on my Instagram. I’m very family oriented. Now, don’t get me wrong. I turn up and they know I do. But I have young nieces and nephews now who are going to be at the age soon where they can click, Google and look. And I never want them to see me in too much of a compromising situation, where they’re embarrassed to say “that’s my uncle.”

At one point and time, I really wanted to do reality TV again. More so to reintroduce myself and say “Hey, you knew me from ‘College Hill.’ This is who I am now. This is what you’ve heard. But this is actually what I’m doing.”  But I don’t want to be in the spotlight. I like to give people enough. But I’m not the red carpet guy. I do want to be the guy whose always invited though.

As for 2016, Cunningham reveals his resolution is to “continue to work around the box! I’m too thick to be cramped in a box of stereotypes.”

To follow Cunningham’s TV takeover, follow him on Twitter @MissterRay or Instagram: @knownasmissterray. In the meantime, check him out as he dishes out a healthy helping of realness on WE tv’s “Reality Wraps.”

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