Diddy Triggers Uproar Over “Black Is Beautiful” Instagram Post by: @TheAndreGeorge

Few people in the world carry as much name recognition as Sean “Diddy” Combs. Boasting an impressive resume of professional titles, including producer, artist, and world-renowned mogul, Diddy, the undisputed king of partying has also experienced his fair share of controversy over his stellar career.  It’s no secret that celebrity life is a gift and a curse. Especially while black, and even more so when you’re Diddy. The actions, thoughts, and opinions of celebs are put on display 24/7 to be dissected and scrutinized. All celebrities live underneath this microscope. It highlights all of their successes in the same way it does their frailties. So what happens when such a prominent figure in both urban and pop culture says something controversial? You guessed correctly. It creates a sort of viral pandemonium, outrage, and subsequent (serious) discussion.

Diddy, an oft-vocal supporter of many minority issues, including his unabashed love of all things black, stirred the pot when he posted the above image on Instagram.

The post received over a thousand comments within the first 30 minutes alone and has now  (at the time of this writing) has exceeded the 5,000 comment mark. The picture depicts a celestial dark-skinned black woman who serves as the focal point of the picture. The black woman is shown hovering over several white women in what many consider to be a position of power or dominance. It appears they are uplifting her, maybe even exalting. As with most artistic depictions, it’s all subject to interpretation. The subjective nature of art is generally what makes its discussions so intriguing. Although the picture itself is enough to trigger some not so pleasant conversations about race, reverse racism, and where we stand on these issues as a country, what exacerbated an already dicey reception for the post came when Diddy labeled it, “As it should be – #BlackIsBeautiful” beneath the picture. Now I’m the world’s biggest proponent of seeking context before reacting to anything, which we may find offensive. It’s prudent to make sure we understand the entire breadth of a point, comment, or discussion. However, in this case, it seems people were not only reluctant to do that, but have allowed their distaste for Diddy to conflate the conversations of race and racism. 

These are just a sampling of the many comments that fueled the discussion. Some commenter’s viewed the post as a harmless expression of acceptance and love for blackness. Others took offense, noting what they believe to be a vehement display of reverse racism. The only thing I’m able to surmise from it all is that it did provide yet another platform of opportunity to engage, reflect, and reveal the underlying current of racial tension still so prevalent today. Is the picture racist? Is it a humble celebration of black acceptance? Were Diddy’s comments taken out of context? Is he guilty of furthering the racial divide? These are the questions his post engendered and no matter what your personal position is, I’m sure we can all agree that we’re eager to hear him answer it.

Andre’ George is a lifestyle writer and brand strategist. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @TheAndreGeorge