Fenty Beauty removes "Geisha Chic" highlighter after backlash over inappropriate name
1 April 2019, 17:28
"Asian targeted racism gets glossed over, it feels even worse when itβs from another marginalised group."
Whenever Fenty Beauty announces their latest makeup drop everyone's scrambling for their wallet, credit card and pocket money. However, Rihanna's new highlighter release has faced backlash online because of the "racist" name.
Rihanna's Savage X Fenty line is being called out for having different styles for plus-size women
Fenty announced three new shades of their cult Killawatt highlighter β "Afternoon Snack/Mo' Hunny", "Penny 4 u Thots" andβ¦ "Geisha Chic" β would be dropping.
The shades were announced in an Instagram post, which has now been deleted, and people immediately took issue with the product name "Geisha Chic".
Geishas are Japanese women who entertain by performing traditional art forms, like singing and dancing. The ancient practice involves various rituals, including learning how to properly entertain and apply their distinctive makeup.
People argued that by Fenty Beauty naming their product after geisha's it ignored the history and significance of being a geisha to the Japanese community.
Really Fenty? This is supposed to be considered appropriate? pic.twitter.com/tyT3Df4xfw
— π Katie Bates π (@BeauteCoulisses) March 30, 2019
Rihanna was really about to bring out a blush called geisha chic π thank god people noticed how gross that was and fenty delayed the launch to rename it. Really weird how the entire fenty beauty team didn't catch how inappropriate that name is from the start
— Sunny (@sun1796) April 1, 2019
. @fentybeauty has a new highlighter named βgeisha chic...β ummmm? Rihanna... explain why Asian targeted racism gets glossed over, it feels even worse when itβs from another marginalized group π
— Jessica (@lyjessicat) March 30, 2019
(Reddit Beauty Guru Chatter) Fenty no..... What are you doing?? π pic.twitter.com/DJvxZECjxX
— βοΈ πππ πΉπͺ πΈππ βοΈ (@TeaByAli) March 30, 2019
F*nty naming a highlighter Geisha Chic Hunny is a big fucking yikes and this not the first time sheβs been racist towards Asians either
— β‘ mollie moose β‘ (@mollierattigan) March 30, 2019
Okay, but what the hell is "Geisha Chic Hunny" @fentybeauty pic.twitter.com/GML511cjWF
— The Tea (@honey614lemon) March 30, 2019
However, others insisted that Fenty Beauty was merely honouring Geishas and their makeup look.
Pretty sure the color and name are significant and paying homage to the culture and not "appropriating" it in a mean way.
— Dani π΅π· (@DaniSweetness_) March 30, 2019
There is a difference. pic.twitter.com/Uau2kgxgJ5
Just putting this out there; being Geisha is not looked down upon. While Iβm not of Japanese descent my sister and I have researched this previously; being Geisha is historically a respected position. Here is a somewhat recent article. I share this as info only π. Link below.
— Kim Foreman π€·π»ββοΈ (@kamiller29) March 30, 2019
As a Asian person, I don't see the problem in @fentybeauty naming one of their highlighter/blush 'Geisha Chic'.
— pizzaz (@Honeybuttergal) April 1, 2019
Fenty Beauty has now removed the product and will rename it. The brand privately DM'd someone on Twitter who had complained about the name, and said: "We hear you, we have pulled the product until it can be renamed. We wanted to personally apologise. Thank you so much for educating us."