Singer India.Arie responds to ‘Cocoa Butter’ dust-up, denies bleaching her skin

theGRIO REPORT - Soul singer India.Arie took to Twitter on Friday to answer questions about whether she bleached her skin...

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Soul singer India.Arie took to Twitter on Friday to answer questions about whether she bleached her skin.

The “Brown Skin” singer, whose pride in her deep complexion has been a subject of her lyrics, released a new single, “Cocoa Butter,” and featured the cover art on her Twitter page. But her lighter appearance in the photos got tongues wagging, particularly since the 37-year-old has been a sharp critic of the casting of lighter skinned actress Zoe Saldana in a biopic of legendary singer Nina Simone.

On Friday, Arie took to her Twitter account and denied that she has lightened her complexion (using cocoa butter or anything else)… saying, “1. I wouldn’t endanger my health that way 2. i’m so in love with myself I have no DESIRE to BLEACH myself” … “3. The GLOW you see IS (magnificent) lighting … 4. THE LIGHT you see, Well thats all ME!!”

And she added a nod to the song most associated with her:

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