Iggy Azalea has once again found herself in controversy, as people on the internet have accused the rapper of “blackfishing” in a new music video.
- READ MORE:A new list of the ‘top 50 worst rappers’ has gone viral and sparked debate
On Friday (July 2), Azalea unveiled her video for new song ‘I Am The Stripclub’. In one scene in the video, she appears in the back of a truck wearing a long, black wig flanked by dancers.
When screenshots of the scene began to circulate on Twitter, users pointed out her darker skin complexion and accused her of “blackfishing”, which essentially means to alter one’s looks in a way that makes them appear Black or of mixed race.
BLACKFISHING 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾 https://t.co/Y0J3jc3aeO
— No Context Dr.Umar (@nocontextdrumar) July 4, 2021
And again, the way industries normalize blackfishing is wild AF. https://t.co/h2kkotmJBn
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) July 3, 2021
Advertisem*nt
Why can't white women just be white? https://t.co/167LoHSsr3
— Queen Thicktoria, Esq. (Paid Advertisem*nt) (@VeeCeeMurphy76) July 2, 2021
y’all tellin me this the same person pic.twitter.com/5bae1k7zWk
— A̵̮̟̩͚͉͚̪͚͊̌̄̅̐̄͘͠ͅ (@notcoolalexis) July 2, 2021
Recommended
Azalea has since defended her look in the music video, calling the blackfishing claims “ridiculous and baseless”.
“I can’t care about something that ridiculous and baseless,” she wrote on Twitter.
“I’m wearing a shade 6 in Armani foundation, it’s the same shade I’ve worn for the last 3 years. It’s the same shade in every music video since ‘Sally Walker’. Suddenly I wear a black wig in a club scene & it’s an issue.”
I can’t care about something that ridiculous and baseless.
I’m wearing a shade 6 in armarni foundation, it’s the same shade I’ve worn for the last 3 years.
It’s the same shade in every music video since sally Walker.
Suddenly I wear a black wig in a club scene & its an issue.— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) July 3, 2021
Advertisem*nt
She later pointed out the exact shade of makeup she claims to be wearing in the clip, while also pointing out that the lighting was dim because the scene in question was a “club scene”.
This is the color I wear, it’s on the arm color of a tan white person.
I’m not wearing crazy dark makeup at ALL.
Everyone in the club scene looks darker, it’s a club scene!
I’m sick of ppl trying to twist my words or make sh*t a problem when all I’ve done is try a hair color. pic.twitter.com/CGQIOQiWGD— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) July 3, 2021
She then went on to said the accusation comes from people trying to “create sh*t outta nothing online”.
“…maybe the internet could watch my music video and see for themselves instead of tryna dog me because a random page I have nothing to do with posted an edit?” she wrote.
“Leave me be, I don’t bother anyone, ppl stay tryna create sh*t outta nothing online. Just BORED.”
Or maybe the internet could watch my music video and see for themselves instead of tryna dog me because a random page I have nothing to do with posted an edit? Leave me be, I don’t bother anyone, ppl stay tryna create sh*t outta nothing online.
Just BORED.— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) July 3, 2021
Azalea then offered some parting words for both her fans and her critics.
To everyone showing me love:
Thankyou for dedicating your day to me & helping me promote,
I love you!To everyone showing me hate:
Thankyou for dedicating your day to me & helping me promote,
I love you!— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) July 4, 2021
Earlier this year, Azalea hit out at both YouTube and the Grammy Awards following the release of recent collaboration with Tyga, ‘Sip It’.
Azalea claimed that YouTube wouldn’t promote the video by recommending it to users or adding it to the platform’s trending charts because of the video’s content.
“I’m really disappointed because I’m indie and I depend on things like that for streaming,” Azalea wrote.
“I sent my video in to their staff a week prior and they told me it was perfect, no issues. I don’t really feel like it’s fair, and I really wish someone at YouTube would resolve it.”
She then took aim at the Grammy Awards for being “rigged as f*ck”. Azalea herself earned four nominations at the Grammys back in 2015.
“Y’all know that now and collectively agree but forget that the whole [music] biz is ran by the same mfs planning THAT event… so why don’t you believe the whole industry is the same way…”
