We could talk about the history behind blackface and what makes it offensive until we’re blue in the face, yet it still goes in one ear and out the other for many. And when combined with the concept of a beauty challenge, we’re reminded that there are still plenty who have yet to understand just how hurtful it continues to be.
The latest blackface offender is beauty blogger Vika Shapel, who recently posted a “Chocolate Challenge” to her YouTube channel. In the now deleted video, the blogger invited viewers to “come watch us transform into deep chocolate skin tones from our pasty pale.”
We’re not too sure why she thought this would go over without any backlash, but as expected, Shapel was quickly gathered. Arnell Armon, another blogger, screengrabbed the instagram post before Vika could delete it, and justly called her out on the blatant cultural appropriation.
Soon after, Vika’s comments on both YouTube and Instagram were flooded by outraged and offended followers.
She has since issued an apology via Yahoo Beauty, claiming to be ignorant to the fact that such a challenge would offend people of color.
“I wasn’t aware of the whole black-face concept before people began commenting it on the photo. I would like to apologize to people that were hurt or offended by my post, and it won’t happen again.”
In 2017 we have a hard time believing that you didn’t know blackface of any kind would be offensive, but okay girl.