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Source: Pacific Press / Getty Morning commuters in London at Tottenham Court Road tube station got a surprise Willow Smith performance. The youngest daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith was spotted busking in the station, strumming her guitar and singing while wearing a neon pink puffer jumpsuit and black shoes. View this post on Instagram @WillowSmith launches #PradaLineaRossa Fall/Winter 2019 with a performance moment on London's own “Linea rossa” – the Central Line on the London Underground. This moment was a celebration of the transient nature of our real life experiences, the performance of the everyday. #PradaFW19 #Prada @transportforlondon A post shared by Prada (@prada) on Oct 7, 2019 at 2:56am PDT What sparked this surprise performance that drew a crowd? Well, it was the Prada Linea Rossa Fall/Winter 2019 launch. The brand explained the launch via Instagram stating it happened on “London’s own ‘Linea rossa’ – the Central Line on the London Underground.” They also added, “This moment was a celebration of the transient nature of our real life experiences, the performance of the everyday.” The musician was gave a surprise performance and busked (sans tips) at the Tottenham Court Road tube station in London, England. View this post on Instagram Unexpected by the audience. Unannounced. @WillowSmith makes her way to the Central Red Line on the London’s Tube to do something that has never been done before. Relive her performance moment in #PradaLineaRossa under the streets of London, now #live on IG stories. #PradaFW19 #Prada @transportforlondon A post shared by Prada (@prada) on Oct 7, 2019 at 7:35am PDT Naturally, the pink puffer jacket and pants were by Prada. View this post on Instagram Anticipation runs high as musician and artist @WillowSmith prepares to launch #PradaLineaRossa FW19 with an unannounced moment along the Central Red Line on London’s Tube. Were you able to catch a glimpse of the big reveal? Comment below and let us know. #PradaFW19 #PradaEyewear #Prada @transportforlondon A post shared by Prada (@prada) on Oct 7, 2019 at 11:01am PDT She also sported some Prada ski shades in one of the images. Busking is not only a way for performers to get their music and art out, but also to make money. I have no qualms with the high end brand using this creative manner to launch their latest line; however, could they have supported more artists? What would this have looked like if they had created a band for Willow, using musicians who actually busk in the London tube? That would have been a phenomenal platform for them. Personally, I always have to give a slight side eye when a high end brand uses an activity or borrows from a culture that lacks socio-economic resources to further promote their brands and sales. Busking is not something rich people do (and it’s highly doubtful you would see a musician doing this in a subway or tube station wearing Prada). If the brand was going to borrow from the musical culture, they could have shined lights on musicians doing this as well, using Willow Smith’s platform (and their own) to help amplify it. If you’re going to be culture adjacent, benefit the culture. Beauties, what do you think? Were you feeling the performance? Would you have liked for the brand to uplift additional musicians to really shine light on the busking community? Talk to us in the comment section. DON’T MISS: It’s About Time! Gucci Mane Is Finally The Face Of Gucci Dapper Dan Addresses Gucci Fiasco & Plans To Help Other Brands With Diversity Marc Jacobs Sends White Models Down Runway In Dreads, Dismisses Cultural Appropriation [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3059978″ overlay=”true”]
