Nikita Dragun called out for insensitive tweet mocking her blackfishing past
6 October 2020, 16:56
The trailer for Nikita Dragun’s new Snapchat series Nikita Unfiltered
YouTuber Nikita Dragun is coming under fire after she posted a tweet asking "which race she'll be today", after previously being accused of black fishing.
YouTube star Nikita Dragun is coming under fire after she posted a "thoughtless" tweet to those who target her about her race.
The beauty guru, who is Asian and Mexican-American was bombarded with hate comments when she posted: "What race is Nikita going to be today?" in reference to the trolls that question her ethnicity. Her mother is Mexican and her father is Vietnamese.
However, with a history of anti-black accusations under her belt, fans took serious offence to the tweet, and claimed that the 24-year-old was making light of a very serious issue.
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The criticism quickly prompted her to clear up what she actually meant by the tweet, writing: "I know it’s a joke to comment on my race but i’m really tired of having to defend myself on every post. “she’s hispanic today” i’m hispanic everyday. my mom is mexican. my dad is asian. i’m mixed. the end. bye."
She then added: "Growing up mixed i was never enough or fully accepted. i don’t have to pick a side. i am not incomplete of my races. i do not lack anything. i am proud of ALL of me."
what race is nikita gonna be today ?
— Nikita (@NikitaDragun) October 4, 2020
i know it’s a joke to comment on my race but i’m really tired of having to defend myself on every post. “she’s hispanic today” i’m hispanic everyday. my mom is mexican. my dad is asian. i’m mixed. the end. bye.
— Nikita (@NikitaDragun) October 4, 2020
growing up mixed i was never enough or fully accepted. i don’t have to pick a side. i am not incomplete of my races. i do not lack anything. i am proud of ALL of me.
— Nikita (@NikitaDragun) October 4, 2020
However, the seemingly logical explanation prompted even more outrage, claiming that the star regularly makes her skin look darker than it is, even bringing up old photos of her to prove their point...
so Nikita Dragun finds her blackfishing as a joke?? why df does she still have a platform pic.twitter.com/QIstAdroGc
— a (@enctrI) October 4, 2020
then explain why you always look black. quickly. https://t.co/grzV8vIXRE
— cam (@PLAYBOlBARBlE) October 5, 2020
ok but what skin tone did you choose today? https://t.co/gXX5CSIr2J pic.twitter.com/NTlYpas3Cg
— marí ♅ (@INFINlTUM) October 5, 2020
Nikita Dragun everytime she’s gets called out for cultural appropriation and blackfishing: pic.twitter.com/5MD6vtiyaM
— HIP ON DA HIP (@madgayho) October 4, 2020
Her fans added that they don’t want her to “pick a side,” they want her to take accountability for her racially insensitive past.
And, this isn't the first time Nikita has been called out for racism-related issues and cultural appropriation. In 2019, she came under fire for attending New York Fashion Week wearing her hair in box braids.
She spoke out claiming that her hairstyle choice was to "show my love and appreciation for all the gorgeous black women in my life" - and it's safe to say it didn't go down well, particularly as it's a style of hair that can still prevent black women from progressing in work and education today.
And, despite the incident losing her a lot of fans, she made headlines again this year, when she was criticised for her dark spray tan.
It seems like she's not too fussed though, and with celebrity friends including stars of the Hype House and fellow YouTubers such as Bretman Rock by her side, it's unlikely we'll be hearing any more from her on the saga.
