Justin Bieber made an April Fools Day joke yesterday and he thinks it was funny and creative and anyone who believes otherwise is just overly sensitive and annoying and clearly wrong. But, hey, he’s totally sorry if you are one of those people! This is basically what Bieber has written on Instagram after garnering severe backlash for a prank he conducted on April 1. The prank, as you may have read about, was very simple: Justin shared a sonogram photo on his social media account, along with multiple photos of wife Hailey Baldwin at the doctor’s office with her shirt pulled up and her stomach exposed. The strong implication? He and Baldwin were expecting their first child! After receiving some congratulations and some questions from followers, however, Bieber at last admitted that this was just an April Fools joke. LOL ? More like… what the Hell for many Internet users, a bunch of whom noted the number of women who cannot get pregnant and/or who have suffered miscarriages — and how offensive such a joke is to those who have gone through such hardships. Bieber has apparently read these criticisms. And he has the most half-hearted apology you’ll ever read in response to them. “There’s always gonna be people offended, there’s also people who don’t take jokes very well, I am a prankster and it was APRIL FOOLS,” Bierer explained this morning in a caption to the photo below, adding: “I didn’t at all mean to be insensitive to people who can’t have children. A lot of people I know, their first go to prank on April fools is telling their parents they are pregnant to get a big reaction.” So, just to recap, Bieber has not yet apologized — but he has admitted that his joke was unoriginal. Okay. Go on in that case, Justin… “I will apologize anyway and take responsibility and say sorry to people who were offended. I truly don’t want anyone to be hurt by a prank.. it’s like when I shoved cake in my little sisters face for her birthday expecting her to laugh but she cried.” Sure, we guess it is sort of like that. No one thinks you purposely set out to be hurtful, Justin. But the qualifications and excuses you’re offering up here don’t feel like much of a mea culpa. Concluded the artist: “You sometimes just don’t know what will hurt someone’s feelings not to compare pregnancy with cake in the face but it’s just to paint the picture of not knowing what will offend. “Some might have laughed but some were offended .. I think With pranks u sometimes have to roll that dice.” Or, you know, you could always choose NOT to be a total cliche and acknowledge April Fools Day at all; let alone acknowledge it with a so-called prank you yourself admit is very old and played out. That’s another option, man. Bieber tossed in the hashtags #prankster #dennisthemenace #sorry #truly to conclude his terrible apology. We were just starting to like the guy again, too. After years of often coming across like an entitled douche canoe, Bieber has calmed down of late and even acknowledged a bit of Depression . He’s clearly gone through a lot over the years and does seem, overall, as if he’s maturing and coming into his own these days. This joke was simply a massive fail. View Slideshow: Justin Bieber Spills on Sex with Hailey Baldwin: It’s a Blessing from God!
We still don’t know Meghan Markle’s exact due date , but royal sources have spent the past three months assuring fans that Baby Sussex will be arriving sometime in mid-April. So needless to say, anticipation is at a fever pitch — and the British tabloids are taking full advantage. Yes, it’s Meg Month in the UK press, and the anonymous sources are spilling more tea than the Queen on a bumpy train ride to Sandringham. Sure, there’s been the usual speculation about the name and sex of Meghan and Harry’s baby , but the floodgates have been opened for Meg gossip of all varieties. Naturally, this has meant more talk of a feud between Meghan and Kate Middleton . To be fair, there seems to be at least a modicum of legitimacy to these reports, as the situation got so bad last year that Kensington Palace was forced to issue a statement on the matter. In all likelihood, Kate and Meg have buried the hatchet — or at least learned how to stay out of one another’s way — but that won’t stop the press from pitting them against each other at every opportunity. It was reported this week that Meghan’s maternity wardrobe budget exceeded $500,000 — which is said to be seven times more than what Kate spent. This fits the “Diva Duchess” narrative well and feeds into the BS notion that Meghan is simply too pampered to get along with Kate. “Meghan has a well-established background before [marrying] Harry as a woman who enjoyed designer clothing,” explains Love the Sales ‘ fashion editor Liam Solomon. “From walking red carpets to living a glamorous LA lifestyle, the former actress was already wearing brands like Dior and Givenchy,” Solomon continues. “You could argue that her newfound fame in the Royal family has only enhanced her style choices, which would obviously mean bigger budgets. “Quite the opposite environment Kate has grown up in, has meant she has stuck with more understated brands,” he adds. “As Meghan was wearing Stella McCartney & Victoria Beckham during her pregnancy, Kate favored pregnancy brands like Seraphine, which were much more affordable.” We get what Liam is saying, but has the world forgotten that Meg was raised by her social worker mother in Los Angeles? Her dad was as lighting director on Married…With Children , and Meghan visited the set frequently as a child. How did this woman who grew up in the presence of Al Bundy come to be regarded as unapproachably posh when compared to the other member of the royal freakin’ family? Bollocks, we say. In other Meg news, she and Harry took another step toward dragging the royal family into the 21st century today when they launched their official Instagram page. So far there’s only one post, which features several pics of the duke and duchess (including the one above) along with the following caption: “‘Welcome to our official Instagram; we look forward to sharing the work that drives us, the causes we support, important announcements, and the opportunity to shine a light on key issues. We thank you for your support, and welcome you to @sussexroyal.’- Harry & Meghan” Yes, we just quoted them quoting themselves like Michael Scott citing Wayne Gretzky. Give us a break, it’s Meg Month, baby! There’s been talk of royal traditionalists griping about Meg and Harry’s foray into social media, but how else do they expect this family to remain relevant? We think it’s a crime that the entire Windsor clan isn’t on the ‘Gram. The Queen could be posting fresh #ThroneSelfies at this very moment! View Slideshow: Meghan Markle Baby Bump Watch: Is She Showing Yet?
Late last week, legendary actor Luke Perry suffered a massive stroke and was hospitalized. He never recovered. On Monday, Perry died . He is being mourned by friends, fans, and castmates — both past and present. Shannen Doherty is honoring his memory — and says that Luke’s greatest accomplishment was his children. After Luke Perry’s massive stroke , Shannen was one of so many who expressed her affection and support while he was hospitalized. “My friend,” Shannen wrote on Instagram. “Holding you tight,” she wrote. “And giving you my strength.” She emphasized her support: “You got this.” Unfortunately, the beloved actor who entertained generations of viewers passed away at 52. Shannen co-starred with Luke Perry for years on 90210 during the ’90s. “Yesterday morning,” Shannen writes. “I got a phone call that devastated me.” She is referring to the notification that Luke had passed. “I’m struggling with this loss,” she admits. “And,” Shannen continues. “Am having a hard time with my thoughts.” That is extremely understandable. “But,” she writes. “My heart goes out to his family and friends” Shannen describes these lucky individuals as people “who were blessed by his light in their (and mine) lives.” “Processing this is impossible right now,” she admits. That is extremely normal for grief. Shannen and Luke fell out of touch after they were no longer co-stars, but then he reached out to her a few years ago. Their friendship endured throughout her cancer battle and continued after she went into remission last year. “Luke was a smart, quiet, humble and complex man,” Shannen says to People . She continues: “with a heart of gold and never-ending well of integrity and love.” “Luke reached out to me during my cancer journey,” she notes. “And we picked right back up” on their friendship, she says. “Albeit older and wiser.” “But that connection remained intact,” she affirms. “There is a special kind of love one has for each other,” Shannen reflects. She says that this is true “when you are experiencing the journey we did on 90210 and of course life in general.” “Luke and I were working on show ideas for us,” she reveals. “We wanted to work with each other again,” Shannen says. “And create something special and meaningful for our fans at this stage in our lives.” She mourns: “I will miss him every day. Every minute. Every second.” “Luke loved his family,” Shannen affirms. She continues: “He raved about his kids and how proud he was of them.” “He showed me videos of the often,” she notes. “They were his heart and for him,” she concludes. “His biggest accomplishment.” “A couple of weeks ago in February,” Shannen says. “Luke and I met up for lunch. He chose the restaurant based on who would allow his dog.” “I walked in and there he was, smiling, with his dog Penny and her bed under the booth, happy as can be,” she recalls. Shannen expresses: “I will never forget — and will miss — Luke looking at me with that smile of his saying … Shan.” That is so sweet and so heartbreaking. Our hearts go out to his family and his loved ones in the wake of this tragedy. View Slideshow: Luke Perry: Mourned, Remembered by Co-Stars and Friends
This just in: Kylie Jenner is crazy rich. What? You already knew that? Okay, try this on for size in that case: Kylie Jenner is HISTORICALLY rich. The latest issue of Forbes states that Jenner has surpassed Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg as the youngest self-made billionaire in history; he was 23 when he reached the billion dollar-mark as a result of creating this Presidential-election-swinging social media platform. Is Jenner really self-made, however? This is the debate that has now broken out across the Internet. Ready to join in?!? Scroll down for more! 1. Cha-Ching! Forbes made it official in March of 2019: Kylie Jenner is the youngest self-made billionaire EVER. 2. Wait, Didn’t Kylie Already Earn This Honor? Not officially, no. In July 2018, Jenner covered this same magazine, which teased that the $800 millionaire was “set” to earn this distinction. 3. Where Does She Rank Worldwide? Jenner sits at number 2,057 on the list of 2,153 billionaires around the globe. She is the youngest person on this list. 4. Kylie Reacts! “I didn’t expect anything. I did not foresee the future,” Jenner told Forbes. “But (the recognition) feels really good. That’s a nice pat on the back.” 5. How Did This Happen? Forbes credits an exclusive distribution deal with Ulta for Kylie Cosmetics, whose revenue climbed 9% last year to an estimated $360 million. 6. Writes the Magazine: With that kind of growth, and even using a conservative multiple from the booming makeup industry, Forbes estimates Jenner’s company is worth at least $900 million. She owns all of it. Add in the cash Jenner has already pulled from the profitable business, and the 21-year-old is now a billionaire, with an estimated fortune of $1 billion. View Slideshow
These days, it seems not a week goes by without some new report of Meghan Markle pissing off her royal in-laws. Of course, while it’s true that the Windsors can be a stuffy and unforgiving lot, you can safely bet that most of these reports are the result of a British tabloid press that very much wants to believe Meghan is despised by Prince Harry’s family. It’s almost as if there’s some sort of obvious difference between Meghan and, say, Kate Middleton. It must be that Meghan is too American , as the outlets like The Sun have repeatedly claimed. Or perhaps it’s just that the royals are still biased against actresses after that whole Wallis Simpson affair of [checks notes] 83 years ago. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Perhaps we’ll never quite know why the tabloid press is so eager to push the narrative that the royals want Meghan condemned to the scullery like Emma Stone in The Favourite . But for whatever reason, the smear campaign continues. The latest claim about the mostly-made-up Meghan vs. the Windsors feud comes from this side of the pond for a change, as Radar Online is reporting that there’s some lingering beef over Meghan’s New York City baby shower . Several outlets reported that the royals were not thrilled about the event, as it goes against their traditions. None of Meg’s in-laws were in attendance, though she reportedly extended invitations to several members of her UK fam. Now, there are reports that Meghan will soon attend a UK baby shower, this one hosted by Kate Middleton. While the two celebrations will be very different in everything from tone to guest list, they’ll reportedly have one big thing in common — the absence of Princess Beatrice. PB is the daughter of Prince Andrew and the infamous Fergie (the duchess, not the Black Eyed Pea), and according to Radar, she and Meghan have never seen eye-to-eye. Insiders say Meghan extending an invitation to Beatrice “would have helped prove to the world that there’s no beef between Meg and the blood princesses of the family.” Meg simply wasn’t having it, however, primarily between Bea has “occasionally been an awful snob” to her. Sounds to us like reason enough for a solid snub! Despite the fact that she’s apparently no big fan of Meghan’s, Bea was reportedly wounded by the snub and is now “determined to make things even harder for Meghan,” the insider claims. So it looks like it’s time for yet another quite-possibly-fake royal feud. Move over, Meghan vs. Kate ! Meghan vs. Beatrice is here, and it promises to be way more one-sided, and thus, way more amusing. View Slideshow: Meghan Markle vs. Kate Middleton Feud: Tearing William and Harry Apart?!
Kelly Brook is the last of the busty British glamour models. There was a time when they were all over the web, flaunting their big guns and making men everywhere drop trou. Now with Instagram there are just too many chicks to scroll through and no longer can any one busty model stand out. It’s kinda sad.
Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news. ( Terms and conditions ). Gunna released “Drip or Drown 2” and fans better get ready for this 16-track album. On this album Gunna has features with Young Thug as well Playboi Carti and many more. Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit For those that don’t know what “drip” is Gunna shared that it’s your attire, swag and whatever you got on. Gunna is a fan of labels and mentioned that the expensive outfit he wore on his album cover had to be tossed. SEE ALSO: Obama’s Swag Drip Too Hard At the UNC v Duke Game [PHOTOS] Many might not know, but Gunna can’t swim. The day he did the shooting for the cover worried him a bit and he just kept floating to the top while trying to take pictures. Gunna has been rapping since he was 15. He got his name through him saying adlibs at the end of his rhymes and the name “Gunna” just stuck with him. The rapper was on tour with Travis Scott and enjoyed every moment of it. When asked about his dating life people are always sliding in his DM. Make sure you listen to the full interview with Gunna up top! Check out photos of Cardi B during fashion week below! ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : Jussie Smollett Turns Himself In Over Disorderly Conduct Charge [PHOTO] Wendy Williams To Return To Her Talk Show After Long Break Barack Obama Spent His Presidents’ Day With John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, And Ayesha & Stephen Curry [Photos] [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”1943982″ overlay=”true”] Follow @TheRSMS
Source: Adene Sanchez / Getty Black History Month has been a lot. We need a do over…but in the meantime, these were some of the craziest moments and pettiest reactions of the month so far. To kick things off, 21 Savage was arrested by ICE after he spoke out against some of their practices in his song “A Lot.” Obviously, we all wanted to see 21 safe and free to stay in the United States with his family—but when the nation found out that the most ATL person we’ve ever known was actually born in London, pettiness about him possibly having a British accent and more ensued. Click here to see who folks say “snitched.” Liam Neeson randomly admitted to wanting to kill a Black man…any Black man…in order to get revenge for a friend who claimed she was rape by a Black guy. He admitted to actively looking for Black men, hoping for some sort of an altercation…and while some folks, gave him props for admitting to his “past” racism, most didn’t let him off that easily and/or had petty jokes for days. Since we not fucking with Liam Neeson anymore put me in the next Taken ima find Jay Z 92 bricks. — Vince Staples (@vincestaples) February 11, 2019 I'm a bit late. All the good Liam Neeson jokes are…Taken. — Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) February 6, 2019 On another note, is it just us or has it been feeling more like blackface month? Gucci, Moncler, AND Prada were all blasted for obviously racist designs that were all blatantly offensive. Then, to top it off, Burberry had a model wear a “noose hoodie” while walking the runway for London Fashion Week. While many of us instantly decided these designers were #canceled, Floyd Mayweather—in all his ignorance and pettiness—decided to throw on head-to-toe Gucci , and hit Instagram to say “People boycott for trend but turn around and still shop at H&M and watch the NFL.” 50 Cent made fun of his reading ability once more and Twitter had a blast with it all. 50 Cent has responded to Floyd Mayweather’s comments pic.twitter.com/PBjUQeJGTw — Quake (@QuakeGW) February 15, 2019 People also thought it was pretty interesting that Nicki Minaj dropped her own remix to Blueface’s viral hit “Thotiana,” even though the West Coast rapper’s remix with Cardi B was on its way . Now that Cardi’s version has arrived, the debate on who’s is better has been never-ending. But overall it seems like the internet is fed up with Nicki’s…creative choices. I love this Thotiana Remix, Cardi B verse is heat on it, Blueface got bodied lmao. Nicki Minaj take notes, you could freestyle without having to rhyme IANA with IANA. — Hip-hop bigger than any artist (@TopHipHopPolls) February 17, 2019 On February 10, Will Smith was the butt of some hilarious jokes after unveiling his genie look in the upcoming live-action adaptation of Disney’s Aladdin . Reassuring petty fans that he would, in fact, be blue he posted a sneak peek from the movie—but people were highly dissatisfied with the end result. “Should he look like the genie or like Will Smith?” “Yes.” pic.twitter.com/54sRUKXiRB — American Antony Santos (@TheMikeTre) February 11, 2019 The Grammys also went down on February 10. Due to being locked up by ICE, 21 Savage wasn’t able to hit the stage for his scheduled performance with Post Malone…so fans were eager to see if Post would at least shout 21 out—but nope. In fact, Childish Gambino producer Ludwig Goransson was the only person to shout 21 out the entire night. This ain’t a petty tweet, it’s simply facts. Ludwig Goransson gives the night's only real 21 Savage shoutout 3 and a half hours into the show. — Craig Bro Dude (@CraigSJ) February 11, 2019 But there was more…Cardi B and Offset confirmed their obvious reunion… but folks are kind of tired of Offset , Kylie Jenner didn’t look her best and people pointed it out all night, Anita Baker didn’t seem pleased with the Aretha Franklin tribute, and for some reason Jennifer Lopez did the Motown tribute…which literally confused everyone. Also Cardi winning a Grammy had everyone on their pettiest behavior (including, BET unfortunately). ….. Shaking my head. https://t.co/u06PUk6Tsq — Anita Baker (@IAMANITABAKER) February 11, 2019 I will never recover from that Jennifer Lopez Motown tribute at the Grammys or this Mariah Carey quote. pic.twitter.com/TC4boZHCB3 — GirlTyler (@sheistyler) February 13, 2019 Cardi B isn't better than Nicki Minaj!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — Omo Iya Eleja (@motivatedgeorge) February 11, 2019 When Steve Harvey and Mo’Nique sat down to discuss their differences of opinion regarding the actress being blackballed, fans came to Mo’s defense. After suggesting that Mo’Nique’s integrity was not as important as getting a check and more, Harvey was accused of being a sellout and dragged to Black Twitter hell by the internet. mo'nique: i have integri– steve harvey: if i crumble, my children crumble, my grandchildren crumble, blueberry crumble, rumble in the jungle, bitch be humble, i am a CLOWN — . (@hoodqueer) February 14, 2019 For some reason, people are obsessed with Malia Obama pretty much being a normal 20-year-old. Our Forever First Kid was caught sipping on some wine after a writer posted a photo that showed her holding a bottle of Rosé. The legal drinking age is 21, but everyone seemed more amused than they were upset. All of Twitter coming together to defend Malia Obama pic.twitter.com/9wgS2WHvj3 — philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 19, 2019 In what was probably the most confusing moment of them all, Jussie Smollett has been accused of staging the homophobic and racist attack that hospitalized him in January. His mugshot has since been released and reports say he is being charged with felony disorderly conduct and faces up to three years in jail. Lmfao. I don’t want him in jail. I think he should be on 3 months probation with the terms being him having to eat Subway everyday https://t.co/WmsRxargHR — Yac House P | Taahir (@PhillyTheBoss) February 21, 2019 On a lighter note, persistent cheater Tristan Thompson got caught stepping out on Khloe Kardashian yet again—this time with Kylie Jenner’s best friend Jordyn Woods at a party. When reports surfaced, Khloe and the crew pettily confirmed them on social media and fans went in on the ever so trifling Jordyn and dirty dog Tristan. *source* from Tristan Thompson's party: pic.twitter.com/bMag6zKqMt — Jenn Wick (@Jennykay5real) February 20, 2019 While sitting down for a town hall symposium for the My Brother’s Keeper program, Barack Obama and Stephen Curry gave out some great advice to the young men in attendance. Specifically, Obama talked about having confidence and not using twerking women and gold chains to front. “If you are very confident about your sexuality, you don’t have to have eight women around you twerkin’,” he hilariously said. “You seem stressed that you’ve gotta be acting that way. I’ve got one woman that I’m very happy with.” Shout out to Mrs. O. and to be clear, there is no tweet to see here people…”You seem stressed” is Obama at his pettiest and we love it. To close thing out, we’ve also gathered your usual, everyday pettiness happening on social media…like folks making fun of single people, Soulja Boy correcting TMZ titles that claimed he was “dating” Blac Chyna, people laughing at Kim K.’s cluelessness , and more. Idk who needs to hear this but… Sis, your soulmate is not that lady’s husband. Lmao. — i work at the mall. (@noIGjazz) February 18, 2019 #SignsYouAreSingle You finished Netflix — Katt Funny (@KattFunny) February 11, 2019 when cardi b said invasion of privacy, offset took it literally pic.twitter.com/nniNkdlrDj — R1+ O (@r1finesse_) February 11, 2019 Soulja Boy apologizes to Blac Chyna pic.twitter.com/jtsln5mv9z — BallerAlert (@balleralert) February 21, 2019 Kim Kardashian saying PERIODT is violence — kayla (@kaylawillsaveu) February 21, 2019 You mean like @KylieJenner did countless times with smaller black owned businesses??? — belladonna (@la_bellamarie) February 19, 2019 lmao why did the sun give you a lineup https://t.co/awVvE4UPn9 — cilvia demo’s #1 fan ⃠ (@thesunstirade) February 13, 2019 He looks like Bruce Willis and Adam Sandler combined https://t.co/A4zoN1e4Bk — B E A N Z | Currently stuck in Raccoon City (@PhotosByBeanz) February 20, 2019 And per usual, shoutout to our heavenly queen, Bey. Every week Beyoncé is doing her part to save Black History Month and it needs to be acknowledged. https://t.co/VOpUO8UKJG — Your Fave (@PartitionBeat) February 20, 2019
As you may have heard, Meghan Markle was in New York City this week for a baby shower hosted by a handful of her closest friends. While the celebration was reportedly a rather pricey affair — as is customary for well-heeled public figures in any line of work — the bill was footed entirely by Meghan’s A-list associates, a group that includes Serena Williams and Amal Clooney . Based on the backlash, however, you would have thought that the whole thing was taxpayer funded. The British tabloid press — which has been relentlessly critical of Meghan from the time her relationship with Prince Harry was first made public — claims that the royals are angry about the shower , as such customs are considered beneath her station. And then there was this woman who donned a mask and took to the streets to repeatedly shout the phrase “charlatan duchess” at Markle. (Note to Crazy Lady: This is America. If you want to make headlines for being racist in the streets, you’ll need a more scathing insult than “charlatan.”) Sadly, the harassment that Meghan received on the streets of Manhattan gave way to a less immediately dangerous, but equally virulent strain of pestering on social media. British bird cage-liner The Sun tweeted about the Masked Dumbass and the comments quickly devolved into the sort of troll-fest that Twitter has sadly become known for. Thankfully, the site deleted a tweet in which the user suggested that Meghan should be shot. Unfortunately, it appears administrators have been unable to keep up with the deluge of hate directed at Meghan, as the harassment campaign continues, mostly unabated. The above screenshot was sent to The Hollywood Gossip by a reader who claims that the “Kozi” account is one of several alternates used by Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle. Please note that while we have reported extensively on Samantha’s harassment of Meghan in the past, we were unable to substantiate the claim that she is the owner of the account or the author of the tweet displayed here. Regardless of who’s responsible, however, one glimpse at a thread like this might be enough to convince you that the targeted harassment campaign against Meghan is far more serious than you had realized. Particularly appalling is the content posted by a user who goes by the handle @YankeeWally, in reference to Wallis Simpson — the American actress whose intended marriage to Edward VIII resulted in the king’s abdication. The account tweeted two photos that claim to show Meghan in various states of undress. We will not be reproducing or linking to them, both because they’re likely fraudulent and because posting explicit photos without the subject’s consent constitutes an act of sexual assault. But let it be known that this is the sort of harassment Meghan endures for committing the unforgivable sin of marrying into a high-profile family. And if you’re as disgusted as we are, feel free to tag @jack and @twittersupport in your complaints. View Slideshow: Meghan Markle: 19 Cruelest Things Her Own Family Has Said About the Duchess
Source: Rushay Booysen / EyeEm / Getty The days of straightening your hair or removing your braids before an interview are officially over. New York City just released their new anti-hair discrimination guidelines that will prohibit schools and employers from denying opportunities to others based on the style of their hair. This is a monumental moment for people of color everywhere who’ve lived in fear that their natural hair had to be altered to fit in a professional setting. The very powerful guideline accurately depicts the experience most people of color have and how they’re experienced in the world. The legal guidance begins with, “ Anti-Black racism is an invidious and persistent form of discrimination across the nation and in New York City. Anti-Black racism can be explicit and implicit, individual and structural, and it can manifest through entrenched stereotypes and biases, conscious and unconscious. Anti-Black bias also includes discrimination based on characteristics and cultural practices associated with being Black, including prohibitions on natural hair or hairstyles most closely associated with Black people. 1 Bans or restrictions on natural hair or hairstyles associated with Black people are often rooted in white standards of appearance and perpetuate racist stereotypes that Black hairstyles are unprofessional. Such policies exacerbate anti-Black bias in employment, at school, while playing sports, and in other areas of daily living .” While it is sad that we live in a time where something like this has to be put into place, I am thankful that it happened. Over the last couple of years we’ve watched school children be refused from attending school, participating in special sports activities and people being told that they’d have to change their hair to complete their work. This kind of behavior teaches children that there is something wrong with their natural hair. We want to change the narrative from self-hate to self-love. Now, cases of discrimination can be met with legal action if they refuse someone’s rights or privilege because of their hair style. These small victories remind me of what it may have felt like when people of color slowly earned normalized rights like co-existing in the same space as a white person. In 2019, we are still fighting to have the same privilege as our white counterparts. Kudos to New York City for taking a stand for us but what about the rest of America? There are countless cases about people of color being fired from work or discriminated against in school because of their hairstyles. Just last April, a black woman was let go from her job because she refused to cut her loccs. When she took the employer to court, she learned that federal law protects people from discrimination based on immutable characteristics, but not their cultural practices, thus losing her case. New York may have won this battle, but we’re still fighting the war for equality. DON’T MISS: For All Our Type 4 Naturals Out There: Suave Is Launching A Haircare Line That Is Perfect For YOU 5 Ways to Extend Your Blowout When You Have Natural Hair 13-Year-Old Lexi Proctor Launched Her Own Hair Care Line After Being Bullied About Her Natural Hair [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3015609″ overlay=”true”]
