Pop star Rihanna fired back via Twitter against Dutch fashion magazine Jackie’s editor-in-chief due to a racially insensitive piece the magazine ran. This is what the magazine had to say about Rihanna.
“She has street cred, she has a ghetto ass and she has a golden throat. Rihanna, the good girl gone bad, is the ultimate n***abitch and she displays that gladly — for her that means what’s on can come off. If that means she’ll be on stage half naked, then so be it.
But Dutch winters aren’t like Jamaican ones, so pick a clothing style in which your daughter can resist minus ten [temperatures].
No to the big sunglasses and the pornheels, and yes to the tiger print, pink ‘shizzle,’ and everything that glitters. Now let’s hope she won’t beat anybody up at daycare.”
In response, Rihanna took to Twitter let her feelings be heard:
@evajackie I hope u can read english, because your magazine is a poor representation of the evolution of human rights! I find you disrespectful, and rather desperate!! You ran out of legit, civilized information to print! There are 1000’s of Dutch girls who would love to be recognized for their contributions to your country, you could have given them an article. Instead, u paid to print one degrading an entire race! That’s your contribution to this world! To encourage segregation, to mislead the future leaders to act in the past! You put two words together,
@evajackie with the intent of abasement, that made no sense…”NIGGA BITCH”?!….Well with all respect, on behalf of my race, here are my two words for you…FUCK YOU!!!
The magazine has since posted an apology on facebook. saying the piece’s author, “meant no harm — the title of the article was intended as a joke — it was a bad joke, to say the least.” She added that, of course, the text should have never run, and apologized:
Furthermore I hope that you all believe there was absolutely no racist motive behind the choice of words. It was stupid, it was naive to think that this was an acceptable form of slang — you hear it all the time on tv and radio, then your idea of what is normal apparently shifts — but it was especially misguided: there was no malice behind it. We make our magazine with love, energy and enthusiasm, and it can sometimes happen that someone is out of line. And then you can only do one thing: apologize. And hope that others wish to accept it. From the bottom of my heart I say it again: we never intended to offend anyone. And I mean that.
Due to backlash, editor-in-chief of Jackie Eva Hoeke has stepped down. She offered this apology:
“I realize that my first reaction through Twitter, in which I indicated that it was a joke, has been an incomplete description of what me, and also the author of the article, meant. The term ‘niggabitch’ came from America and we solely used it to describe a style of dress. Because of the enormous pressure through social media I was tempted to promise amendment regarding the language in future issues of Jackie. Apart from that I also offered an rectification. I have now come to the conclusion that rectification is not the right solution. I regret that I have taken a stand too quickly regarding an article in Jackie — which moreover had no racial motive at its basis. Through the course of events, me and the publisher have concluded that because my credibility is now affected, it is better for all parties if I quit my function as editor-in-chief effective immediately. After putting my heart and soul into for Jackie for eight years, I realize that these errors — although not intented maliciously — are enough reason for leaving.”
Is Eva Hoeke stepping down from her position solve this deep-rooted issue? We, at KollegeKidd, know it doesn’t, but this situation brings up a very serious topic. What is the perception of black people around the world? This situation tells us that racism doesn’t occur only in America. But did Rihanna’s style of dress and actions in the public spotlight further promote these racist steretypes? KollegeKidds sound off on this issue.
