L'Oréal: Get Réal

Posted Aug 8th 2008 1:10PM by TMZ Staff

BeyonceBeyonce, or L'Oréal for that matter, probably had no idea that an ad for hair color would cause so much controversy. I am an African-American woman and I work for TMZ. Yes, TMZ hires Black people.

I saw the new L'Oréal ad a few days ago, and it struck a nerve. There's still a stigma of Black celebs acting "too Black." This ad re-enforces that negative portrayal.

Why can't a powerful, talented African-American woman be celebrated for her natural beauty? L'Oréal claims they didn't change Beyonce's appearance, but who are they fooling? L'Oreal obviously wanted to make Beyonce look White.

The L'Oréal ad is disrespectful and dismissive to the Black community. And L'Oréal's explanation is lame.

My name is Nina and I approved (and wrote) this message.



Filed under: Beyonce Knowles


Tags: beyonce

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1. get over yourself please.....this is a gossip site for crying out loud

Posted at 12:41PM on Aug 8th 2008 by cheap tart

2. get over it, anyone that knows a lick about photography knows that lighting can do alot, so other than blemishes, they may not have touched anything else. Add the lighting plus the hair color and she could come out lighter. It's not like they came out with an ad that said the only way you can be attractive is if you look white.

Posted at 12:41PM on Aug 8th 2008 by Get over it

3. Whatever lady... you know you don't work for TMZ... And if you do, you should try and use some of that space for something a little bit more tantalizing. This is a friggin tabloid site, fer chrissake. Not the NAACP.

Posted at 12:42PM on Aug 8th 2008 by Lucky

4. I'm sorry but the version of this picture you have here is much lighter than the ones I've seen on other websites. I think Lo'Oreal isn't the one doing the whitening. I think TMZ is in order to stir the pot and create 'news'.

Posted at 12:42PM on Aug 8th 2008 by Patricia

5. Sorry, but you have no proff of what you;re saying. Sure, blame everything on the whities. If it was touched up, how do you know a black girl who works for the company didn't lighten it up or make that decision? It looks like god lighting and decent makeup. Sounds like paranoia on your part, Ms. TMZ Black Girl.

Posted at 12:42PM on Aug 8th 2008 by Marshall

6. Well can I take offense that you dont want her to look white? Get a grip, people like you are the cause for all the race tension we have. If blacks want equal rights, then so be it-- I am all for it, but to bring to the attention that you are black and offended, make me think harvey needs a slap for allowing you to show your ignorance.

Posted at 12:42PM on Aug 8th 2008 by Dawn

7. First of all im not sure why this lady is getting soooooo upset over this ad. Beyonce herself paints her face to look whiter than she really is. In fact most black women do this in Hollywood ( aka lil kim? Micheal Jackson too lol) It seems to me that if this tmz staff member is upset it should be at her own culture for betraying there true colour and trying to be something there not. Loreal bases there image on what beyonce herself portrays.

Posted at 12:43PM on Aug 8th 2008 by get a life

8. Why can't a powerful, talented African-American woman be celebrated for her natural beauty?

Natural beauty??????
It's an ad for a product to alter your natural beauty

Should white actors get mad for being told to get a tan for an upcoming movie,

Seems likes everywhere you look there is the ever present race card

Posted at 12:43PM on Aug 8th 2008 by WoWzers

9. This entire post is just GARBAGE. Trying to get more people to blame even more crap on white people.

Posted at 12:45PM on Aug 8th 2008 by Sheena

10. In my personal opinion it is probably just the intense lighting that is used on these types of photoshoots that caused her to look lighter, I could also have been what type of makeup was used and if a highlighting cream was used on her face also.

Posted at 12:45PM on Aug 8th 2008 by Amber

11. Nice comparison photo of Beyonce.

Did that same photographer take that picture of John Edwards' new baby for the National Enquirer?

Posted at 12:48PM on Aug 8th 2008 by Its All Asian People's Fault!

12. you couldn't use a more recent photo or more clearer to compare? In the before she has darker hair and as you should know when you lighten you color so dramatically it does have an illusion of lighter skin

Posted at 12:48PM on Aug 8th 2008 by mel

13. I agree with you 100%, but I'm just wondering why you capitalized "Black" throughout your comments but not "white"?

Posted at 12:50PM on Aug 8th 2008 by curious

14. Nina, please get OVER yourself.

As a strong, african-american woman, you are really bugging the hell outta me.

Typical black victim. Always looking for a source of oppression.

Posted at 12:50PM on Aug 8th 2008 by richardson

15. Seriously....I mean come on. I'm so sick of black people crying about the dumbest crapt! If a white person said they were making someone look too black then that would be discrimination. Get over yourself!

Posted at 12:50PM on Aug 8th 2008 by getreal

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