Spice issued a statement on Friday to clear up controversy over some recent photos where she appears significantly lighter than normal. She explained on Instagram that she doctored photos — and never actually bleached her skin — in order to call attention to colorism among black people, saying "I chose to do this...because I believe colorism is plagiarizing our black community."
During the past week, the image has sparked a bit of debate online, with some users believing the musician drastically bleached her skin, and others calling it a publicity stunt. Spice also further addresses the problem of colorism on the lead single "Black Hypocrisy" on her upcoming project Captured.
Spice maintains that the image was not uploaded to simply garner publicity. "I want to openly say it was not a “publicity stunt,” she wrote. "I wanted to create awareness to “colorism” and it was more so done intentionally to create shock value so that I could have the worlds undivided attention to deliver the message in my music."
She also said why she thinks a serious conversation on colorism needs to be had. "There are dark skin women across the world complaining every day that they are being downplayed and degraded," she says. "But the raw truth is, it is us “black women” and “black men” that are fighting against each other and tearing down our own race."
Read the full statement down below.
On October 22nd I posted a picture of myself where I looked like I altered my appearance and metamorphosis to match the “Eurocentric beauty standards.” I fearlessly addressed an issue that has been swept under the rug and boldly took the stance in bringing a taboo topic to the fore front. I chose to do this in the manner I did because I believe colorism is plagiarizing our black community.
While It appeared as if I had “bleached” my skin, causing a world wide debate, and even though the picture was obviously birthed around my single titled “Black Hypocrisy” and my mixtape Captured, I want to openly say it was not a “publicity stunt." I wanted to create awareness to “colorism” and it was more so done intentionally to create shock value so that I could have the world's undivided attention to deliver the message in my music.
There are dark skin women across the world complaining every day that they are being downplayed and degraded, but the raw truth is, it is us “black women” and “black men” that are fighting against each other and tearing down our own race.
It’s evident in the social media comments every day, I myself have lived through it all being downgraded by my dark complexion. Would the message in my song have been received as well as it did world wide if I didn’t go to the extreme with the picture? The truth is — no. It would have probably been just another Spice hit song; so yes I had to go the extra mile
to ensure my message be heard.
Most people got a misconception that I was boosting “skin bleaching” but ironically it was the opposite. I used myself as an example of what people from the black community is causing other women to do because of how society makes them feel.
Yes “black is beautiful,” we say it every day but are we showing love to our black women? This topic is long and I could spread it so far but mi tired fi type lol. The fact is colorism is happening in the homes, school, and businesses but I’ll leave it till my next post.
To put a end to the debate “I DID NOT BLEACH MY SKIN” and I quote “Proud a mi color, love mi pretty black skin, respect due to mi strong melanin” words from my “Black Hypocrisy” song that I wrote from my heart.
