Debate Revisited! Should Issa Have Chosen Lawrence In The ‘Insecure’ Finale?

Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty

It’s almost been a full decade since now-Hollywood heavyweight Issa Rae branched outside the world of YouTube and her virally successful web series, Awkward Black Girl (2011 – 2013), to create the now-iconic HBO series, Insecure (2016 – 2021).

When the show ended after Season 5 with a much-debated series finale, fans everywhere were split by her — SPOILER ALERT! — decision to finally choose on-again, off-again boyfriend Lawrence, played by the immensely talented Jay Ellis.

The moment went a little like this:

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The initial debate came from those who either felt she should’ve ended up with Nathan (Kendrick Sampson) — in other words, the “Aiden” to Lawrence’s “Mr. Big”— her first side dude Daniel (Y’lan Noel), something completely new with Crenshawn (Kofi Siriboe) or simply on her own with the besties Molly (Yvonne Orji), Kelli (Natasha Rothwell) and Tiffany (Amanda Seales) by her side.

The convo has now sparked up once again following Issa’s visit to the Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast in promotion of One Of Them Days, which is produced by Rae and stars Palmer alongside R&B sensation SZA. Starting at the 31:11 mark, Keke revisited the Insecure finale by asking Issa what made the production team decide on her character ending up with Lawrence overall. “There were definitely discussions in the room,” she says, elaborating further by stating, “I was opposed to it initially, and I went on my own journey because I was — I know I just said I don’t think about the audience, but when something’s [been] already on the air like Insecure, there’s always pressure in series finales.” Ultimately, she concluded that the overall conversation surrounding the decision is something that was appreciated and actually helped separate Issa Rae from Issa Dee, further adding, “For me, I had to separate my own personal biases and what I wanted myself for Issa Dee.”

Peep the revisited Insecure finale debate between Issa and Keke in full below, via Baby, This is Keke Palmer Podcast:

So, let’s get to the bottom of this: Did Issa Dee and Lawrence Walker really deserve each other in the end? Like, even after Condola and the baby?! As the 10-year anniversary since Insecure premiered approaches rapidly, we think it’s worth figuring out once and for all.

Take a look below at what some people on social media have said recently in regards to the Issa/Lawrence ending on Insecure, and let us know where you stand in the longstanding debate:

via @_NyNizzle

2. Is it me or what… why interviewers keep asking Issa Rae about insecure ending! Y’all know just like I know she should’ve NEVER went back to Lawrence! Hell she said it so please Stop asking her that!

via @_geauxKoKo

3. I mean in reality she should have been with Daniel

via @arianathemuse

4. Rewatching insecure idk how yall liked how this shit ended… Issa was mad mature with Lawrence and his baby momma and Lawrence deliberately nasty to Nathan because he was with Issa… he was always doing wack shit…

via @omgbackatit625

5. Issa & Lawrence settled for each other outta guilt.

via @CamYamz

6. I wanted Issa and Lawrence to get back together sooo bad! but now that I’m older and wiser maybe not.

via @Mapitseni

7. i still can’t believe issa ended up with lawrence

via @aricrutchfield

8. I still think Lawrence fumbled that girl (not ISSA)

via @DwardDoesIt

9. Team Issa and Lawrence forever, but this is one of my favorite episodes. #InsecureHBO

via @ILoveMeSomeShay

10. i just knew lawrence & issa was going to get back together in the end, that scene with the older elijah just

via @lolitzshakira