Blue Ivy Carter has been announced as the narrator for the audiobook “Hair Love” authored by Matthew Cherry.
Read More: Beyoncé reveals how she’s explaining state of world to Blue Ivy, twins
On Twitter, Cherry shared the link to listen to the 4-minute read on Audible. Audiences can also preview a sample of the eight-year-old reading the book. illustrated by Vashti Harrison, “Hair Love” follows the main character Zuri as her father attempts to style her big, kinky, curly hair. The story doesn’t just empower little Black girls to embrace their natural texture but also encourages their fathers to lend their hand to hairstyling.
Blue Ivy, daughter of superstar musicians Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter has already earned a BET Her Award, an NAACP Image Award and has landed on the Billboard charts. Despite her young age, she has faced public criticism and rude comments about her natural hair and looks, making her a perfect talent to read the book to the world.
In 2014, actress and model Karrueche Tran faced backlash for making fun of Blue Ivy’s hair. As theGrio reported, as a guest-host on the music video countdown show 106th & Park she joked: “I really did wake up like this, because my parents never comb my hair!” about the then 2-year-old. (Tran later apologized saying the joke was written for her and that she didn’t like it either.)
At the beginning of the year, theGrio‘s Blue Telusma questioned why Blue Ivy triggers anti-Black remarks after a Vanity Fair writer tweeted how that he felt sorry for Blue because of her undeniably African American features. In her opinion piece, Telusma highlighted the long history of public figures coming for the eldest Carter child and her appearance.
“Blue Ivy’s biggest sin in the court of public opinion, was never about her parents “not combing” her hair. The only thing that child has ever really done to offend her “haters” is have the nerve to look so unapologetically Black,” Telusma wrote.
“Hair Love” is based on Cherry’s Oscar-winning short film of the same name.
As theGrio reported, HBO Max ordered Young Love, an animated series based on the short. According to the report on the 12-episode series, Cherry will serve as showrunner alongside Carl Jones, known for his work on The Boondocks. The characters from Hair Love will be featured in the series.
“I am beyond excited to continue telling the story of Stephen, Angela, and Zuri and further explore the family dynamics of a young Black millennial family we established in our short film Hair Love as an animated series,” Cherry said in a statement, according to theGrio. “Couldn’t ask for better partners in Sony Pictures Animation and HBO Max in helping us get Young Love out to the world.”
Read More: Blue Ivy Carter wins her first NAACP Image Award at 8-years-old
“Hair Love struck a chord that is still resonating deeply with audiences of all ages,” Billy Wee, SVP, original animation, HBO Max, said in a statement.
Other celebrity parents tweeted in appreciation of Blue Ivy’s involvement.
Gabrielle Union tweeted “Being able to hear Blue Ivy give voice to this masterful story is so awesome. They try to bury us, not knowing we are seeds of strength and beauty.”
According to Cherry, “Hair Love” is available everywhere audiobooks are sold.
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