Designer Tory Burch sparks backlash with ‘Juju On That Beat’ remake
Tory Burch came under fire on Tuesday when they premiered an ad for their spring/summer 2017 collection.
The ad features English model Poppy Delevingne, as well as two other white models, dancing along to Zay Hilfigerrr & Zayion McCall’s “Juju on That Beat.” Not one black person was featured in the ad, but a money-shaped handbag featured.
Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert, who directed the ad, explained her vision for the ad, saying, “’Juju on That Beat’ is a happy song; I like the fact that it is a very easy song, too. The girls learned the moves very quickly and they had fun. The best part was watching them rehearsing and doing the song because they enjoyed themselves for real, which made this whole process very fun.”
— Rachel Dolezal rubbed mud on skin to be ‘dark-skinned princess’ —
https://www.instagram.com/p/BR6kmzeBJdf/
But no matter how much fun was had, people were quick to drag Tory Burch for taking a song and dance popularized by young black people and removing all blackness from the equation.
According to Teen Vogue, designer Tory Burch apologized in a comment on the company website, though the comment has since been reportedly deleted. The apology read: “I personally feel badly if this hurt anyone, and I’m truly sorry.”
@toryburch but why? Everything in that advertisement screams cultural appropriation and that little monkey purse chile? I just can't
— Thesunflowerthatgrewfromdefeat (@melaninmafioso) March 22, 2017
Tory Burch definitely should've had women of color in that ad and that's all I'm going to say about the situation.
— Morgan ✨ (@_MorganKD) March 22, 2017
