Beauty Editor of Elle France Magazine Jeanne Deroo, Recently issued an apology for her decision to dress up in blackface as Solange Knowles for a “Icons” theme costume party. After posting a picture on instagram from the private party, viewers immediately to offense and reacted to it causing her to take it down and now issue her apology where she states “I realize how much the fact of painting oneself brown is an offensive act. I didn’t realize the seriousness of my action….I chose to embody Solange Knowles, of whom I am a fan. During this private party, I posted a picture of myself on my Instagram without intention of hurting anyone. I deeply regret and would like to present all my apologies…..” (Gotta Admit she did nail it with her costume!!!) This hasn’t been the only issue this year with blackface, just a while ago around the halloween season white people were throwing on the face paint to emulate black celebrities. I personally don’t see anything wrong with blackface paint when used in that manner for example if the editor would’ve just went to the party without the paint and simply just had the outfit, lipstick and afro people would’ve had to guess horribly who she was whereas with the paint you can clearly tell she either Solange or Diana Ross. I feel the black community can be sensitive sometimes when it come to particular matters such as this one. I always say, “White people didn’t get mad when Shawn & Marlon Wayans dressed up as white girls for the movie, or Martin Lawrence whenever he play Bob from Marketing on his show.” Lets not let matters like this get in the way of the bigger issues at hand that effect the community. With blackface when used to be creative without the intent of being offensive there shouldn’t be any uproar however when used to mock a racial stereotype then there should be a problem but like I said some have a selective sensitivity to the subject leaving it with a double standard. Another example when fashion designers attended a halloween party called “Disco Africa” I admit some of the costumes were offensive to see such as one guess exactly having the original blackface character from the old days which I felt had nothing to do with the theme of the party or the white guy dressed up as slave, but I didn’t have a problem with the white couple dressed in blackface as an african couple. Overall Its nothing to lose sleep over, because rather racial ill-intent is behind it you can’t control it you can only look beyond it.
To read the full apology click here
Photo Courtesy of NewsOne
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