If you're on TikTok, then you're probably familiar with Addison Rae. She's a dancer whose videos generate millions of views.
And right now, she has more than 48 million followers on the app.
Well, Addison is currently facing backlash for allegedly blackfishing, which is a form of cultural appropriation and blackface, often resulting from purposely wearing makeup that's often several shades too dark.
Addison Rae called out for blackfishing by fans. In the now deleted SnapChat, Addison is seen putting on make up to make herself look considerably darker than her complexion. She has 48 million followers on TikTok. More in thread. What are your thoughts?
In 2018, a thread of influencers accused of blackfishing went viral, showing just how common and problematic the trend is:
Can we start a thread and post all of the white girls cosplaying as black women on Instagram? Let’s air them out because this is ALARMING.
BuzzFeed News covered Emma Hallberg, who became a prime example of a white woman seemingly posing as a black woman.
In an interview with NBC, Ericka Hart, who's a Black influencer and sexuality educator, discussed the topic of blackfishing. “How popular the Kardashians are speaks volumes and can’t be overlooked," she said. "They have been able to capitalize off black bodies, and people will want to emulate that." Twitter user @dxjennae echoed that sentiment:
these blackfishing threads just remind me how blackness is viewed as a commodity.
In Addison's Snapchat, she's seen getting her makeup done before a photo shoot and definitely appears darker:
📱 | Addison Rae (@whoisaddison) via Snapchat.
She soon faced backlash on Twitter.
nobody’s talking abt addison rae switchin up ethnicities on us
did i miss sumn
Addison legit did black face and y’all still out here supporting her? Smh 🥱
not addison rae blackfishing girl- what r they putting in white ppls water wtf
Addison Rae is literally blackfishing. Are we not going to talk about that?
People tweeted screenshots of her natural skin tone, compared to the Snapchat makeup look that received backlash:
now tell me why addison rae and her mother look that dark when they’re usually this light... something ain’t right about this
I saw this on my tl if you can speak about phoebe and daisy you can talk about addison rae. some of you don't find this disrespectful but some people can/do. I love her but please don't use that much fake tan.
Adding a screenshot from a YouTube video Addison Rae posted hours after SnapChat story for comparison. YouTube video on right, SnapChat story left.