Clicks has been trending for quite some time now and many celebrities have been outraged by the racism that was spewed by the advertisement, which categorized African hair as ‘dull, dry, frizzy and damaged.
She adds that the portrayal of black hair in mainstream media is also a disappointment. “I will not be silent when I see the continued portrayal of white hair as not just the norm, but the standard. Our hair remains important as an expression of individual identity…Our kids do not deserve to ever be subjected to adverts such as yours.
“Raising a daughter who embraces her true self is a deliberate act of service to her as her mother, who is her primary role model….I love my daughter’s hair, as much as I love my own….and for that I call your advert distasteful, disrespectful and disgusting.
Basetsana Kumalo has released an open letter to the disgraced retailer that has dominated the headlines over the past week. As a proud afro wearer, she too was offended by the post and she shared clips of a scathing letter on behalf of all black people to Clicks and the hair care brand that was behind the advertisement
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“As a mother of a beautiful African child, how dare you describe our crowns as dry, brittle and damaged…where does the buck stop? Did you expect us to look the other way as you subconsciously feed us absent-minded vitriol about our image as African people? This advert is not only utter rubbish from your brands, but a reflection of ongoing problems in this industry that dares to define what beauty is to any of us,” the letter reads.
South African actress Thuso Mbedu is the latest star to speak out against gender-based-violence and plead with South African men to stop. Taking to her Instagram account, Thuso was in disbelief over the shooting of a woman at a police station.
Mbedu then pleaded with the men across Mzansi to do something. To speak with other men to change their ways because women can’t find this war alone. “To the men, who can speak to other men – do something. Obviously we are fighting this war alone and we are losing.”
The fight against gender-based violence and s.e.xual abuse has been going on for years in South Africa and there seems to be little change in the behaviour despite countless pleas from women to men to change their ways. We hope that Thuso Mbedu’s plea does inspire change from our men as well inspire those who can make a difference to do so.
Actress and singer Simphiwe ‘Simz’ Ngema pulled a Kylie Jenner on all of us.
After years of promising fans a cookbook, Somizi Mhlongo–Motaung has kept his word – the “self-published” culinary book is set to be released in November.
Backlash against the French film “Cuties” continues to escalate, with objectors now demanding Netflix be cancelled in response to the movie’s perceived s.e.xualization of children.