Just when we’re settling into our new month’s theme, ‘Rejuvenation’ there’s a fresh ‘blackface’ claim, with Kylie Jenner of the Kardashian family being accused of trying to make herself look black in a new photoshoot that she revealed yesterday on social media.
Posting an image taken by photographer Marcelo Cantu to her Instagram page, 17-year-old Kylie revealed an editorial wherein she rocks multicoloured hair and dark, sparkling skin, captioning;
“How I wish I looked every day.”
But, though the original caption has now been deleted, what followers took note of and believe Ms Jenner was referencing is her darker complexion – apparently created with a backlight, neon lighting and the skill of make-up artist Joyce Bonelli – which has launched race-fuelled backlash against the teen on the internet.
One Twitter user commented;
“Girl, you are not black. This makes me so angry. Appropriating another’s culture is not some beauty trend. It’s a culture not a costume.
…why is it that ethnic features are only deemed beautiful on non-ethnic bodies?”
In a recent update, Zendaya Coleman – who just last month was caught up in her own racial controversy, when E! News presenter Guiliana Rancic made comments about her dreadlocs (read more about that, here) – has weighed in on the debaucle, first by showing her support of the images by commenting on Kylie’s Instagram picture with a clapping hands emoji.
Sharp-eyed followers noticed though, and one ventured to call Zendaya out, commenting;
“@Zendaya I need you to explain why you support Kylie Jenner’s decision to publicly display blackface.”
Zendaya later repsonded to explain she had reconsidered her opinion of Kylie’s photos, saying;
“At first, I saw more of an avatar look but thank y’all for keepin me on point….we all gotta stay aware of what image we project #lessons”
Not all of social media are certain the shot represents blackface though, with some coming to Ms Jenner’s defence – one person posting;
“Kylie Jenner is a mess and she’s irritating but I’m almost 100% sure that that isn’t blackface.”
Today, Kylie has responded to the claim, posting to her Twitter;
While the jury’s out on whether or not the shoot was an attempt to make Kylie Jenner look like a black woman, we at SPICE would love to know what you think – let us know in the comments box below or on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @SPICETVAFRICA.
Image source: Cosmopolitan.co.uk, @KylieJenner
