Nancy Ajram faces online backlash over alleged blackface in prank video

Famend Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram is going through a deluge of criticism after she posted a video on her Instagram web page the place she reportedly appeared in blackface.

Blackface is the act of darkening one’s pores and skin tone and is taken into account a racist caricature of Black individuals and appropriation of Black cultures. It has an extended historical past each within the Center East and past.

Within the video, Ajram could possibly be seen strolling the streets of the Lebanese capital Beirut in a thick, curly, darkish wig, the place she aimed to see if passersby would nonetheless recognise her.

Blackface and anti-blackness within the Arab world

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In keeping with the video, which has racked up greater than 1.4 million views, Ajram didn’t make any direct feedback on race or anti-blackness.

The video consists of the 39-year-old present process intense make-up, and she will later be seen paying for groceries, asking passersby for instructions, stopping at a espresso store, after which having a birthday dinner with a buddy.

The video wraps up with Ajram eradicating her make-up within the busy restaurant and taking photographs with employees.

The incident triggered a flood of on-line criticism, with many demanding that the singer, who’s a family title in a lot of the Arabic talking world, apologise for the alleged prank.

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“It is 2022 and folks nonetheless suppose it okay to make use of blackface as a prank. Nancy, do not come later and say ‘I did not realize it was racist’, this isn’t an excuse… the very first thing that pops out whenever you seek for blackface is racism,” wrote one consumer.

Blackface is a observe that’s largely shunned in most elements of the world however remains to be widespread within the Netherlands and in India, the place it has come to be often known as brownface.

Some Center Jap comedic exhibits and social media influencers have appeared in blackface in recent times, regardless of its modern-day utilization resulting in outrage and requires a boycott.

“Waking as much as seeing Nancy Ajram in blackface was not what I anticipated this morning. The informal racism and anti-Blackness that also permeates the area, that is gross and shameful,” wrote Lebanese-American activist Danny Hajjar.

“I am not going to share the photographs publicly, they’re on the market. And y’all can see the feedback from individuals going absolutely the distance to really defend Nancy Ajram and this “prank” or no matter. None of that is acceptable, and it is disgusting that individuals are defending this.

“And albeit, that is the place our tradition and music media fails. There are not any shops that I’ve seen speaking about this, nothing difficult what Nancy Ajram did, nothing placing this in context of anti-Black racism within the area and within the Arabic music business. Actually a disservice.”

Dubbed by Spotify because the “Queen of Arab Pop”, Ajram is usually credited with influencing the revival of pop music within the twenty first century.

She has launched 12 studio albums up to now and quite a few chart-topping singles comparable to Yay Seher Oyounoh; Ya Tabtab; Mogabah; Ehsas Jdeed; El Donia Helwa; Mashy Haddy; and Fi Hagat. 

Regardless of her famous person standing in Lebanon, digital media web site Beirut.com slammed the incident, describing it as “disgusting” in a social media submit.

“Do Lebanese celebrities not be taught from one another’s scandals? [Arab celebrities] nonetheless lack the essential sensibilities that contribute to racism and ignorance in our area,” the positioning stated.

In distinction to the criticism, the Instagram feedback for Ajram’s submit have been suffering from posts of help, with many not figuring out something mistaken or controversial in regards to the singer’s actions.

Center East Eye reached out to Nancy Ajram’s PR group for remark however didn’t obtain a response by the point of publication.