Vlogger sparks outrage after allegedly posting 'slave' make-up tutorial video
'This is not okay'
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Your support makes all the difference.A beauty blogger has come under fire after sharing what appeared to be a slave-inspired make-up tutorial, but she has now spoken out to explain that her post has been edited and misinterpreted.
Turkish make-up artist Percem Akin shared a YouTube video that seemed to be on how to dress like a slave for Halloween, but it has now been deleted.
A screengrab has widely been circulating of an accompanying Instagram post, but Akin claims her words have been changed.
After deepening her skin tone, giving herself fake scars and donning a headscarf, Akin was accused of "blackface."
In a bid to promote the video, the make-up artist shared images of the "look" on her Instagram account where the screengrab shows Akin using the hashtag #slave sandwiched between #blackwoman and #sadmakeup.
Many people were outraged by the tutorial, taking to Instagram and Twitter to criticise the artist.
“This is highly offensive! This is hurtful, disturbing. This is not okay,” one person wrote.
Having received such a huge backlash, Akin quickly deleted the video and blocked comments before finally making her Instagram account completely private.
Outraged social media users are now calling for NYX Cosmetics - who are affiliated with the make-up artist - to cut all ties.
“I wouldn’t choose such an ignorant person for a brand,” one person commented.
However, Akin has told The Independent that the look was designed as makeup for a film character:
"People prefer to see only racism in my work not pure beauty," she said. "This is just a movie character, and the movie which is directed by some poor students in my country, Turkey.
"We are not living in America or Africa, in my country finding a black model is so difficult,and they (directors) created a character for this movie and I made this." She also added that it wasn't her design.
Akin says that she didn't use the hashtag "slave" but rather "slayer," which is the name of the film.
"If I hurt the people like that, I am sorry but I never meant this to be racist work," she explained.
This article has been amended with comments from Akin.
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