Models Get Flak For Wearing ‘Blackface’ As Sisters Serena And Venus Williams
Image via Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com
Models Sophie Applegarth and Julie Lovenitti have received backlash from netizens after sharing images of themselves in ‘blackface’. The duo attended a party dressed as renowned professional American tennis players and sisters, Venus and Serena Williams.
The pair defended the racist costumes, which were revealed in photos on Instagram. Lovenitti responded to a critic on social media saying that “there is nothing racist about backing [your] favourite sport stars.”
“Go to school and learn what racism really means,” she added.
The friends shared multiple pictures of themselves wearing tennis gear and smeared with brown body paint. One picture also featured their friend Sally Coburn, who also wore ‘blackface’ to imitate Kobe Bryant.
Following the party, Applegarth said she “did not mean to offend” anyone with the photographs. “Disclaimer—I had no ‘racist’ or malicious intent by the photos I just uploaded.”
“We were praising our fav sports stars Serena and Venus Williams. Did not mean to offend.”
A Twitter user said , “How did this Aussie lass [Sophie Applegarth] and her band of merry little friends think this get-up was a compliment to their ‘fave sports stars’? Y’all couldn’t think of better ways to pay tribute to Serena and Venus without blackface?”
Another added , “How big a bubble does a person (i.e Sophie Applegarth) live in if they *still* think this ok?”
The news follows Atletico Madrid footballer Antoine Griezmann getting heavily criticized for donning ‘blackface’ and an afro at a party to imitate a basketball player for the Harlem Globetrotters.
TW: Blackface/racism @Chic_Management model Sophie Applegarth has proudly shared photos of herself and friends in blackface for a “sports stars” party pic.twitter.com/x53i1MtEqj
— Lauren Ingram 🌈 (@laureningram) December 29, 2017
Model Sophie Applegarth defends blackface costumes as ‘praise’ of Venus and Serena Williams – … Sophie Applegar… pic.twitter.com/3goV99qSJG
— furqan (@furqansmrt) December 29, 2017
How did this Aussie lass (Sophie Applegarth) and her band of merry little friends think this get-up was a compliment to their “fave sports stars”? Y’all couldn’t think of better ways to pay tribute to Serena and Venus without blackface?
2018 resolutions – educate yourselves 😏 pic.twitter.com/nx7p8qIVoz
— Victoria Uwonkunda (@Msuwonkunda) December 29, 2017
No. It is not a joke, or flattering or just for fun. Grow up! It’s 2017/18 and your apology sound like “sorry if you felt offended by my racist act”. Ugh. #sophieapplegarth #whiteprivelege
— Andrew Reid (@AndrewR71733493) December 29, 2017
#blackface is a disgrace. These young women need to understand it is beyond appalling. #SophieApplegarth #sallycoburn https://t.co/umotpthv3F
— Ermenegilda (@ermenegilda) December 29, 2017
How big a bubble does a person (ie Sophie Applegarth) live in if they *still* think this ok? pic.twitter.com/qUZ2LLpYQO
— Jake Watt (@JakeChatty) December 29, 2017
[via Daily Mail , opening image via Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com ]
January 8, 2018 at 09:22PM
via http://www.designtaxi.com/news/397729/Models-Get-Flak-For-Wearing-Blackface-As-Sisters-Serena-And-Venus-Williams/?utm_source=ifttt