A beauty vlogger got called out for creating a “vitiligo makeup” look
Social norms are shifting in front of our eyes, and it’s pretty great! The beauty industry, for instance, is starting to become more diverse, including spokespeople with many different backgrounds and styles. Wet N Wild featured a model with albinism, CoverGirl has had a male campaign star, and Fenty Beauty launched a foundation with 40 shades for people of all skin tones. However — sigh — we’re still learning, and there are people who don’t quite get how to be respectful of other’s differences. This beauty vlogger who created a vitiligo makeup DIY is getting called out as one of them.
A skin condition that affects the pigmentation of the skin, vitiligo results in lighter-colored patches. It’s something people live with every day, and it’s not a makeup trend.
Beauty vlogger Golgi Apparatus is known for their non-mainstream beauty looks: ramen hair, unibrow makeup, snot makeup. But this look took it a little too far. After a tweet containing a screenshot of the makeup DIY made its way to Twitter, the look went viral. The internet was not happy with this tutorial, with people calling Golgi out, saying they are canceled because skin conditions aren’t a trend. People started to share their own experiences with vitiligo, including the bullying they, or their loved ones with the condition, had to endure.
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/930242371010342912
This backlash eventually led Golgi to delete the photo and make a statement on their Instagram saying that it wasn’t meant to be offensive:
"To clarify: this was inspired by a photo of @allaboutvalentina in which she had grey splotches on her face and running down her arms. This look was just a way for me to have more fun/experiment with my makeup. I in NO WAY intended for this to represent vitiligo, and I sincerely apologize that it offended so many people."
We’re thankful for this apology, but either way, this should never have happened. Sometimes, you just gotta take the L and recognize that you made a mistake. People’s cultures, conditions, religions — they are not costumes, and they’re not something others can adopt for a day and then discard. We hope that Golgi recognizes the error of their ways.
