or type here...
8/8/2008 2:10 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
L'Oréal: Get Réal

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.

See More

Please check your inbox ... your comment will not appear until you have confirmed your identity via email.

When you enter your name and email address you'll be sent a link via email to confirm your comment. Please keep your comments relevant to this post. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make the link live for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

Reader Comments

(Page 4 of 36) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments
46.

Kat:  1285 days ago

Beyonce isn't Black. She is Creole which is French and Spanish and American Indian. She isn't Black at all.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
47.

getreal:  1285 days ago

Hey 19- I see you're still watching the dead horse get beat.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
48.

The Big One1:  1285 days ago

The only reason this is causing so much controversy is because you keep on bringing it up. This story was so 3 days ago but you just had to put in your 2 sense. I'm dissapointed at Harvey for letting a staffer put up her personal opinion as if it was the opinion of all of TMZ. This is not your personal blog. I come here to read about gossip, not about a disgruntled TMZ staffer who takes everything to serious. Once again i am VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!


Likes 0 Dislikes 0
49.

Kimmie Pie:  1285 days ago

come one!! Lorel just made her match her hair color! Don't you see her eyebrows?? LOL

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
50.

Twinker:  1285 days ago

Beyonce is laughing all the way to the bank on this one. Beyonce (her handlers and agents, familey, etc) all know that she will endorse beauty products so until she herself cries about it, get over this martyr/victim mentality. You have a powerful job at TMZ that a lot of people would love to have...so celebrate!

Brain matter is not black or white...it's GRAY!

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
51.

stillz:  1285 days ago

hahaha was going to say same thing. GET OVER YOUSELF. or do us all a real favor and jump off a cliff. beyonce is f'n malotto...dont blame loreal for beyonce having a 'whiter' day

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
52.

Donnie Wahlberg:  1285 days ago

So, I am a bi racial woman, and I know Beyonce has some white in her (her momma is mixed) and B is often not as "tan" as the picture you are comparing it to. It's summer, when did they shoot the loreal picture?? Have you not seen any of Bs videos, she is "light" in a lot of them (bootylicous)..she has a high yellow tone. TMZ is making way too much of this, call me crazy...but people get darker in the summer!!

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
53.

crs:  1285 days ago

Funny how a very shadowed and blurry picture was chosen for comparison. Beyonce isn't exactly chocolate ya know. I can take 10 pictures of my self in different lighting and different looks and look like 10 different people. And trust Beyonce has enough pull as a celeb that if she didn't like what they were doing then she could talk about it her damn self.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
54.

Snowed:  1285 days ago

She looks "light" in a lot of pictures - not just ads - I doubt very much that anyone is touching up pictures from award shows, ect. The lighter her hair, the lighter her skin appears.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
55.

yorkieboy2frenchiegirlsmama:  1285 days ago

Do you want some chesse with your wwwwwhinnnnne? Get me a break. Grow up and get over your crybaby self. Paris Hilton even has more class than you do for bringing your "disrepected self" out to the public media.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
56.

tt:  1285 days ago

IF YOU WANT B to celebrate he BLACHNESS then TELL HER TO STOP DYING HER HAIR BLOND OTHERWISE NO ONE CARES !!!

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
57.

JUBUG:  1285 days ago

always the black/ white thing.... i didnt own any slaves none of my family did either and you were never one sp can we all get pass this crap already.............. move on and let it go... for the love of god

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
58.

Rachel:  1285 days ago

As a graphic designer who frequently re-touches photos, this is most likely either an over-exposure of lighting or someone wanted to make the hair color look more blond and knocked up the yellow balance a ton... she doesnt even look that white, mostly just yellower, which gives her the appearance of lighter skin...

its sorta silly to try to make a racial issue out of a bad touch-up job...

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
59.

kat:  1285 days ago

What black woman is buying loreal anyway? I don't buy that crap. Besides, I could see if they lightened Gabriel Union, but Beyonce is already light bright.

But to the person blaming black people for not being "true" to their culture: perhaps you should learn a bit more about the country you live in (assuming that you live in the US). Black people are doing that crap-lightening their skin, straightening their hair-because we live in a country where kinky hair is considered "political". But whatever, I couldn't care less what some ignorant white or ignorant black person has to say about me and others would be better off if they worried a little less about what some dumb ass cosmetic company's idea of beauty is and focused more on loving themselves.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
60.

Kat:  1285 days ago

Beyonce is Creole people. Her mother is from Louisiana aristocracy.

Likes 0 Dislikes 0
Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments