A scene from Die Antwoord's music video Fatty Boom Boom.
A scene from Die Antwoord's music video Fatty Boom Boom.
Bachelor star Art Green has courted controversy by sporting 'black face' to a birthday bash. Here are five other examples of celebrities involved in cultural misappropriation.
Shelton Woolright
Shelton Woolright in his stage make-up. Photo / Facebook
The X Factor
judge was forced to defend his use of blackface during performances with his hard rock group I Am Giant after signing up as a replacement for Willy Moon on the latest season of the TV3 talent show. "The black face paint has been part ofmy stage performance for various shows and videos and and has been a developing concept. As with my full body tattoos, it has been a form of expression and a point of difference,"
Kylie Jenner was accused of blackface. Photo / Instagram via Kylie Jenner
The model found herself in hot water after posting a series of photos on Instagram from a recent shoot with dark, iridescent make-up painted on her face and the caption, "What I wish I looked like all the time". Fan outcry saw her respond with an explanation that put her look down to "black light and neon lights". "People lets all calm down," she said.
Julianne Hough
Dancer, singer and actress Julianne Hough donned an Orange Is The New Black costume for Halloween, including painting her face black in an attempt to embody the show's imprisoned character Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren. The move caused an uproar, and Hough apologised via Twitter. "I am a huge fan of the show Orange Is the New Black, actress Uzo Aduba, and the character she has created. It certainly was never my intention to be disrespectful or demeaning to anyone in any way. I realize my costume hurt and offended people and I truly apologise," she wrote.
Die Antwoord
South African rap-parody duo Die Antwoord play around with stereotypes all the time. But their use of blackface in the video for Fatty Boom Boom was too much for some. MC Yolandi was dressed head-to-toe in blackface for the video, an outfit deemed inappropriate by one Guardian critic. "I am troubled by the ways in which these decontextualised, distorted and racist representations will be taken up globally," wrote Adam Haupt. "Will this improve perceptions of Africans? I think not."
A scene from Die Antwoord's music video Fatty Boom Boom.
Bobby Deen
Paula Deen reportedly fired her social media manager after an outcry over a series of I Love Lucy-themed photos that featured her son Bobby in blackface. This was awkward because, as The Independent reported, "In 2013, Ms Deen lost many business relationships after a former employee sued her for racial discrimination". A spokesperson for Deen said: "Paula immediately had this picture taken down as soon as she saw the post and apologizes to all who were offended. As such, Paula Deen Ventures has terminated their relationship with this Social Media Manager."
I can't wait to see Paula Deen's damage control on this. She's going to need more than enchiladas and salsa. pic.twitter.com/f6AfTxzB4V
