Iggy Azalea furiously hits back at accusations of blackfishing in I Am The Stripclub video
‘I am the colour I always am!’ Iggy Azalea furiously hits back at accusations of blackfishing in I Am The Stripclub video and says she’s wearing the ‘same shade’ make-up she’s used for THREE YEARS
- The rapper, 31, was criticised by those who believed she had used make-up and a dark wig to pretend to be black or mixed-race
- Defending herself in a series of tweets on Friday, Iggy told her critics that she was using the ‘same shade’ make-up she’s used for three years
- Iggy shared a picture of the Armani foundation shade she uses in the music video, and claimed critics wanted to ‘make s**t a problem’ because of her wig
- When a fan asked Iggy to ‘clear up’ the confusion after she was accused of blackfishing, she simply said ‘I don’t care… f**k those ppl babe lol’
- Iggy later added: ‘F***ing hell. It’s always an issue, when it’s ME. I mind my business – just leave me be. Ppl on here love to twist what I do and say’
Iggy Azalea has hit back at people accusing her of blackfishing in her new music video I Am The Stripclub.
The rapper, 31, was criticised by those who believed she had used make-up and a dark wig to pretend to be black or mixed-race, but she blasted her accusers and called the claims ‘ridiculous and baseless’.
Defending herself in a series of tweets on Friday, Iggy told her critics that she was using the ‘same shade’ make-up she’s used for three years.
‘I am the colour I always am!’ Iggy Azalea furiously hit back at accusations of blackfishing in I Am The Stripclub video on Friday (pictured left in the video and right in August last year)
When someone shared a snap of the pair together and claimed she didn’t ‘look tanned’ then, she hit back: ‘I’m the same color as I always am, just in a dimly lit room with red lights.
‘It’s the same makeup from every other part of the video just with a Smokey eye and different wig. Just ignore them, who cares? Let em talk.’
After several more accusations she shared a picture of Armani’s make-up range, saying she used shade 6 foundation and furiously said: ‘This is the color I wear, it’s on the arm color of a tan white person.
‘I’m not wearing crazy dark makeup at ALL. Everyone in the club scene looks darker, it’s a club scene!
Hitting back: Defending herself in a series of tweets on Friday, Iggy told her critics that she was using the ‘same shade’ make-up she’s used for three years
Defence: When someone shared a snap with her and claimed she didn’t ‘look tanned’ then, she hit back ‘I’m the same color as I always am’ and shared a picture of the foundation she uses
‘I’m sick of ppl trying to twist my words or make s**t a problem when all I’ve done is try a hair color.’
In response to another person, she said: ‘I can’t care about something that ridiculous and baseless. I’m wearing a shade 6 in armarni foundation, it’s the same shade I’ve worn for the last 3 years.
‘It’s the same shade in every music video since sally Walker. Suddenly I wear a black wig in a club scene & its an issue.’
When a fan asked Iggy to ‘clear up’ the confusion after she was accused of blackfishing she simply said ‘I don’t care… f**k those ppl babe lol’.
Furious: When a fan asked Iggy to ‘clear up’ the confusion after she was accused of blackfishing she simple said ‘I don’t care… f**k those ppl babe lol’
Discourse: After people took offence to her saying ‘f**k those people’, Iggy told those reacting angrily: ‘Leave me be, I don’t bother anyone, ppl stay tryna create s**t outta nothing online’
After her supporter added that some people felt she looked darker than she is and said she should say if the pictures had been ‘edited’, she claimed she was ‘bored’ of the constant discourse.
Iggy wrote in response: ‘Or maybe the internet could watch my music video and see for themselves instead of tryna dog me because a random page I have nothing to do with posted an edit? Leave me be, I don’t bother anyone, ppl stay tryna create s**t outta nothing online. Just BORED.
She later added: ‘F***ing hell. It’s always an issue, when it’s ME. I mind my business – just leave me be. Ppl on here love to twist what I do and say and it’s pointless. It changes nothing about my life.’
Upset: Iggy later added: ‘F***ing hell. It’s always an issue, when it’s ME. I mind my business – just leave me be. Ppl on here love to twist what I do and say’
When the music video was released, a number of people took to Twitter to accuse Iggy of blackfishing.
One person wrote: ‘Make no mistake. Celebrities do modern day blackface. It’s just become socially accepted because it’s so mainstream. COUGH COUGH @Iggyazalea, @KimKardashian @ArianaGrande @KendallJenner to name a few.’
Another added: Can someone please tell #IggyAzalea that she’s not a person of color?? Stop Blackfishing it’s very discriminatory abd vulgar especially in this BLM era !!! (sic).’
And in response to pictures of Iggy, one person added: ‘You are telling that THIS is Iggy Azalea? When will the blackfishing cease? When.’
Criticism: When the music video was released, a number of people took to Twitter to accuse Iggy of blackfishing
It is not the first time Azalea has been accused of cultural appropriation.
The singer previously had to address criticism after being accused of swapping her Australian twang for a ‘blaccent’, rapping with in a pitch and tone akin to an African American urban accent.
Iggy said in 2014 it was a conscious decision of hers to ‘sound’ Black in her music, as opposed to rapping in her Australian accent and questioned ‘why is it such a big deal?’.
She told Complex at the time: ‘I couldn’t talk in an American accent—I could, but it would sound very fake—but I can rap in one with no problem.
‘If you’re mad about it and you’re a Black person then start a rap career and give it a go, too.
‘Or maybe if you’re Black, start singing like a country singer and be a white person. I don’t know. Why is it such a big deal?’
In 2014, American Hip Hop artist Azealia Banks accused the Voice judge, who raps in an American accent despite her natural Aussie twang, of appropriating black culture.
‘Its funny to see people Like Igloo Australia silent when these things happen… Black Culture is cool, but black issues sure aren’t huh?’ Azealia wrote.
Controversy: It is not the first time Azalea has been accused of cultural appropriation, she has previously addressed criticism for swapping her Australian twang for a ‘blaccent’
In 2015, Iggy came under fire for past homophobic and racist tweets she posted prior to her rise to fame.
They included ‘When guys whisper in eachothers ears I always think that’s kinda homo’; ‘Is it wrong Im happy to hear southern accents again and not mexican ones? F**k it. I am’; ‘just saw 5 black men get arrested out the front of popeyes #damn #stereotypes’; and ‘b**ches in LA be stick skinny. To the bone. White, black, mexican… okay so maybe not mexican.’
She also tweeted about playing soccer with ‘d*ke b**ches’, as well as making comments about Asian people pretending they don’t understand English.
At the time, the rapper apologised for the remarks, writing: ‘Unfortunately in the past as a young person, I used words I should not have.
Reaction: Iggy said in 2014 it was a conscious decision of hers to ‘sound’ Black in her music, as opposed to rapping in her Australian accent and questioned ‘why is it such a big deal?’
‘The last thing I want is for something so carelessly said to be interpreted as reflective of my character. I meant no harm and deeply regret ever uttering those words.
‘As an adult I would never use them because I understand they play a detrimental role in the fight for issues that I do truly believe in.’
She finished by apologising to anyone she had ‘offended or disappointed’, and wished her friends taking part in the event good luck.
In 2012, the songstress caused controversy for her song D.R.U.G.S, a remix of Kendrick Lamar’s Look Out for Detox.
Backlash: Iggy (pictured with her son Onyx Kelly) also caused controversy for her song D.R.U.G.S, a remix of Kendrick Lamar’s Look Out for Detox
Iggy adapted one of the songs lyrics to “When the relay starts, I’m a runaway slave / Master”.
After facing a mountain of backlash from her listeners, the star released a letter months later apologising and stated it was a ‘tacky and careless’ thing to say.
In a written statement, Iggy wrote: ‘Sometimes we get so caught up in our art and creating or trying to push boundaries, we don’t stop to think how others may be hurt by it.
‘In this situation, I am guilty of doing that and I regret not thinking things through more.’
Response: Iggy adapted one of the songs lyrics to ‘I’m a runaway slave / Master’, after facing a mountain of backlash from her listeners, the star released a letter months later apologising