Everything That Upset the Internet This Week
What is the web-o-sphere angry about this week? Kardashian kultural appropriation, a bizarrely cruel Zara jacket and Shakira’s tour merch. Here’s everything you need to know.
Kim Kardashian wore Fulani Braids (again)
THE STORY: Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian faced scrutiny for sporting her hair in blonde, beaded Fulani braids. The problem wasn’t just that she sported a traditionally African hairstyle, it was that she captioned her photo “Bo derek braids,” seemingly crediting the style to a white woman .
Arriving at the Saturday night’s MTV Movie and TV Awards, Kardashian walked the red carpet with her mom Kris Jenner, her hair in braids once again.
THE REACTION:
kim kardashian still out here getting braids? bitches never learn bro
— ً (@prettychaneI) June 17, 2018
I can’t deal with Kim Kardashian and those fucking braids. I’m convinced she wears the braids out of spite and to piss off black women
— Lizzie (@elizabethmillr) June 18, 2018
Kim Kardashian in these braids is exhausting. The most annoying part is that at this point she knows what she’s doing, she knows what cultural appropriation is and that it upsets people yet she still chooses to do it because she knows it doesn’t upset the right ppl or cost her $$
— BBQ Sauce (@bigbrownqueer) June 17, 2018
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: For the first time, Kardashian has addressed the controversy her hairstyle has stirred. In a new interview with Bustle, Kardashian West doesn’t quite apologize to the community she’s offended, but instead offers an explanation as to why she keeps wearing braids.
“I actually didn’t see backlash. I actually did that look because North said she wanted braids and asked if I would do them with her. So we braided her hair and then we braided my hair,” she explained.
Despite this explanation, she understands her critics. “I [do] remember the backlash when I had the blonde hair and that I called them ‘Bo Derek braids.’ But I obviously know they’re called Fulani braids and I know the origin of where they came from and I’m totally respectful of that. I’m not tone deaf to where I don’t get it. I do get it,” she said. Kardashian went on to say that she wears the style in honour and with respect of the culture where it originated. To which I say: you do you Kim.
Melania Trump wore a bizarrely cruel jacket to visit detained children in Texas
THE STORY: Boarding a plane to Texas to visit detention centres where young migrant children have been separated from their families, First Lady Melania Trump wore a a $39.00 Zara army jacket with the words “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” scrawled on the back.
THE REACTION:
Melanie trump wore a jacket to the boarder today that on the back said “I really don’t care do u?” For fucks sake! She is a model! She knows the power of clothes! Why lady? Why?
— Wendy & Lisa (@wendyandlisa) June 21, 2018
People in politics, including their families, know that even the most subtle action or statement, even what is worn, sends a message. Melania has a staff to advise her on her actions and statements. Her jacket wasn't just fashion. It was a statement. #KeepFamiliesTogether #resist
— Dr. DaShanne Stokes (@DaShanneStokes) June 22, 2018
Melania is complicit. Melania is part of this. Melania is a birther. Melania knows what she’s doing. Melania uses her white woman status to get people to defend her. Melania is a Trump. Melania doesn’t care about you. Don’t care about Melania.
— Celia (@_celia_bedelia_) June 22, 2018
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Wow. Where to start? When something shocking occurs, we search for an explanation. Which is what many of us did when we first saw Melania’s jacket: Was this ignorance? Was it a message to her husband? Was it a message to the media? Was it a message to the country? Was it simply tone-deaf cruelty?
Instead of explaining her fashion choice, Melania’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, offered this dismissive statement: “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe,” she said. To which, I say:
Everyone saying not to be distracted by the jacket seriously underestimates my ability to be pissed about multiple things simultaneously. – J
— Heather & Jessica (@fuggirls) June 21, 2018
Melania Trump—once portrayed as a victim of the Trump administration—will not come back from this. The contempt she has shown as a representative of the United States is unforgivable. Who the contempt was directed to remains unclear.
Shakira’s tour merch resembles a Nazi symbol
THE STORY: A pendant being sold as part of Shakira’s “El Dorado” tour merch has drawn comparisons to the Black Sun, a symbol used by the Nazis.
THE REACTION:
Dear @shakira, you know that your necklace depicts an important Nazi symbol, propagated by the SS during the Nazi era? It was so popular that Himmler incorporated it into a floor of the Wewelsburg Castle to establish it as the "center of the New World ". https://t.co/00Bfy1Tywm pic.twitter.com/2m0hldq0w9
— MaMika* (@Mamika_do) June 20, 2018
i am sorry to tell you, but lack of knowledge does not justify anything anywhere ever. Not if you drive to fast, if you commit a crime or use well known nazi symbols.
— onosun_jet (@weallarefuture) June 20, 2018
Well, this is certainly problematic. For more information on the Sonnenrad, see our hate symbols database at https://t.co/9PpjjWdvFh.
"Shakira selling Nazi-like trinket for El Dorado tour"https://t.co/2WgJTnuZWg
— Mark Pitcavage (@egavactip) June 21, 2018
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: This item has since been removed from Shakira’s website—though it probably didn’t have to be. Shakira is from Colombia, and her tour is named after a mythical gold-obsessed legend that originated in her country. Most likely, this pendant was inspired by patterns popular in pre-Colombian artifacts. Not by Nazi imagery.
These Twitter users know European history to the finest detail, but might want to spend some time brushing up on their South American history. They can start by watching this cartoon film, which, coincidently (or not), features a very similar symbol.
THE STORY: Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian faced scrutiny for sporting her hair in blonde, beaded Fulani braids. The problem wasn't just that she sported a traditionally African hairstyle, it was that she captioned her photo "Bo derek braids," seemingly crediting the style to a white woman .
Arriving at the Saturday night's MTV Movie and TV Awards, Kardashian walked the red carpet with her mom Kris Jenner, her hair in braids once again.
THE REACTION:
https://twitter.com/prettychaneI/status/1008205491615518720
https://twitter.com/elizabethmillr/status/1008521859300642821
https://twitter.com/bigbrownqueer/status/1008202901309644800
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: For the first time, Kardashian has addressed the controversy her hairstyle has stirred. In a new interview with Bustle, Kardashian West doesn't quite apologize to the community she's offended, but instead offers an explanation as to why she keeps wearing braids.
"I actually didn't see backlash. I actually did that look because North said she wanted braids and asked if I would do them with her. So we braided her hair and then we braided my hair," she explained.
Despite this explanation, she understands her critics. "I [do] remember the backlash when I had the blonde hair and that I called them 'Bo Derek braids.' But I obviously know they're called Fulani braids and I know the origin of where they came from and I'm totally respectful of that. I'm not tone deaf to where I don't get it. I do get it," she said. Kardashian went on to say that she wears the style in honour and with respect of the culture where it originated. To which I say: you do you Kim.
Melania Trump wore a bizarrely cruel jacket to visit detained children in Texas
THE STORY: Boarding a plane to Texas to visit detention centres where young migrant children have been separated from their families, First Lady Melania Trump wore a a $39.00 Zara army jacket with the words “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” scrawled on the back.
THE REACTION:
https://twitter.com/wendyandlisa/status/1009892708209397760
https://twitter.com/DaShanneStokes/status/1010148888202940417
https://twitter.com/_celia_bedelia_/status/1010158562839027713
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Wow. Where to start? When something shocking occurs, we search for an explanation. Which is what many of us did when we first saw Melania's jacket: Was this ignorance? Was it a message to her husband? Was it a message to the media? Was it a message to the country? Was it simply tone-deaf cruelty?
Instead of explaining her fashion choice, Melania’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, offered this dismissive statement: “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe,” she said. To which, I say:
https://twitter.com/fuggirls/status/1009921208777728000
Melania Trump—once portrayed as a victim of the Trump administration—will not come back from this. The contempt she has shown as a representative of the United States is unforgivable. Who the contempt was directed to remains unclear.
Shakira's tour merch resembles a Nazi symbol
THE STORY: A pendant being sold as part of Shakira's "El Dorado" tour merch has drawn comparisons to the Black Sun, a symbol used by the Nazis.
THE REACTION:
https://twitter.com/Mamika_do/status/1009462787968561152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fetcanada.com%2Fnews%2F340613%2Fshakira-faces-backlash-after-fans-compare-tour-merch-pendant-to-nazi-symbol%2F
https://twitter.com/weallarefuture/status/1009381899679170560
https://twitter.com/egavactip/status/1009947291409510401
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: This item has since been removed from Shakira's website—though it probably didn't have to be. Shakira is from Colombia, and her tour is named after a mythical gold-obsessed legend that originated in her country. Most likely, this pendant was inspired by patterns popular in pre-Colombian artifacts. Not by Nazi imagery.
These Twitter users know European history to the finest detail, but might want to spend some time brushing up on their South American history. They can start by watching this cartoon film, which, coincidently (or not), features a very similar symbol.
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