Everything That Upset the Internet This Week

by Meghan McKenna

What is the web-o-sphere angry about this week? Kardashian kultural appropriation, a bizarrely cruel Zara jacket and Shakira’s tour merch. Here’s everything you need to know.

Kim Kardashian wore Fulani Braids (again)

THE STORY: Earlier this year, Kim Kardashian faced scrutiny for sporting her hair in blonde, beaded Fulani braids. The problem wasn’t just that she sported a traditionally African hairstyle, it was that she captioned her photo “Bo derek braids,” seemingly crediting the style to a white woman .

Arriving at the Saturday night’s MTV Movie and TV Awards, Kardashian walked the red carpet with her mom Kris Jenner, her hair in braids once again.

THE REACTION:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: For the first time, Kardashian has addressed the controversy her hairstyle has stirred. In a new interview with Bustle, Kardashian West doesn’t quite apologize to the community she’s offended, but instead offers an explanation as to why she keeps wearing braids.

“I actually didn’t see backlash. I actually did that look because North said she wanted braids and asked if I would do them with her. So we braided her hair and then we braided my hair,” she explained.

Despite this explanation, she understands her critics. “I [do] remember the backlash when I had the blonde hair and that I called them ‘Bo Derek braids.’ But I obviously know they’re called Fulani braids and I know the origin of where they came from and I’m totally respectful of that. I’m not tone deaf to where I don’t get it. I do get it,” she said. Kardashian went on to say that she wears the style in honour and with respect of the culture where it originated. To which I say: you do you Kim.

Melania Trump wore a bizarrely cruel jacket to visit detained children in Texas

THE STORY: Boarding a plane to Texas to visit detention centres where young migrant children have been separated from their families, First Lady Melania Trump wore a a $39.00 Zara army jacket with the words “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” scrawled on the back.

THE REACTION:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: Wow. Where to start? When something shocking occurs, we search for an explanation. Which is what many of us did when we first saw Melania’s jacket: Was this ignorance? Was it a message to her husband? Was it a message to the media? Was it a message to the country? Was it simply tone-deaf cruelty?

Instead of explaining her fashion choice, Melania’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, offered this dismissive statement: “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe,” she said. To which, I say:

Melania Trump—once portrayed as a victim of the Trump administration—will not come back from this. The contempt she has shown as a representative of the United States is unforgivable. Who the contempt was directed to remains unclear.

Shakira’s tour merch resembles a Nazi symbol

THE STORY: A pendant being sold as part of Shakira’s “El Dorado” tour merch has drawn comparisons to the Black Sun, a symbol used by the Nazis.

THE REACTION:

RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RAGE: This item has since been removed from Shakira’s website—though it probably didn’t have to be. Shakira is from Colombia, and her tour is named after a mythical gold-obsessed legend that originated in her country. Most likely, this pendant was inspired by patterns popular in pre-Colombian artifacts. Not by Nazi imagery.

These Twitter users know European history to the finest detail, but might want to spend some time brushing up on their South American history. They can start by watching this cartoon film, which, coincidently (or not), features a very similar symbol.

 

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