Blac Chyna sparks criticism after promoting skin-lightening cream on social media
Blac Chyna has sparked controversy after promoting a skin-lightening cream on social media.
The model teamed up with beauty brand Whitenicious by Dencia to create a $250 (approximately £195) ‘brightening and illuminating’ lotion which comes in a Swarovski-embellished jar.
The mother-of-two took to Instagram to advertise the item, announcing that she will launch the product with an upcoming event in Nigeria.
A post shared by Blac Chyna (@blacchyna) on Nov 19, 2018 at 5:47pm PST
Unsurprisingly, the model’s latest #spon sparked outrage across social media with Twitter users accusing Chyna of promoting European beauty standards.
Blac Chyna selling bleaching cream in Africa??? The world really is backwards, sad thing is people will actually buy it.
— مرياما (@MariamasTL) November 20, 2018
Blac Chyna launching a skin bleaching cream is just Blac Chyna doing Blac Chyna things…the real issue here is that it’s being targeted to the Nigerian market and the fact that the villainous product will most likely sell out in Nigeria.
— Ibadan Lord 🇳🇬 (@degosTee) November 20, 2018
How can you as a black woman even be apart of something so damaging to the black community? Skin bleaching cream ? In Africa? I can’t with Blac Chyna
— Indi 🌻 (@____indiaaaaaa) November 20, 2018
A large number of skin-lightening products are available in Nigeria where approximately 77% of women use them on a daily basis according to the World Health Organisation.
As a large number of social media users have highlighted, there is a growing issue surrounding ‘colourism’ throughout Nigeria – a prejudice against people who have a darker skin tone.
According to the Whitenicious website, the controversial cream ‘brightens and lightens without bleaching skin out’ but the company has drawn criticism since its debut back in 2014.
In defence of the controversial brand, founder and former singer Dencia told Ebony magazine: “Will Whitenicious bleach your skin if you use it on all your skin? Yes, it will. Are we selling Whitenicous for that purpose? No, we’re not.”
Skin-lightening products are illegal in the UK due to the creams containing hydroquinone; a chemical compound that can damage the liver and nervous system.
Whitenicious isn’t the only brand to come under fire for exploiting ‘colourism’ – Nivea also fell under scrutiny for a 2017 advert.
The brand sparked controversy after promoting a cream titled ‘Natural Fairness’ with a marketing slogan used on billboards across Africa which read: ‘For visibly fairer skin’.
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