Jeffree Star Receives Backlash For “Velvet Trap” Promo Shoot Depicting Woman Of Color In A Mouse Trap

Jeffree Star is creating controversy and once again facing allegations of racism after revealing new promotional photos in a latest beauty launch.

According to People, the marketing photos for his new lipstick formula called “Velvet Trap” feature an image of a woman of color on her knees in a mousetrap.

When the YouTube star released the questionable image on social media it instantly reminded followers of offensive comments Star has made in the past about black women.

“Hey it’s super weird to use imagery of a black woman in a rodent trap especially when you have a history of calling black women rats but like every other terrible thing you do, this will inevitably be forgotten until the next launch,” one Twitter user wrote in response to the photo.

Twitter remembered when Star reportedly called fellow beauty influencer Jackie Aina an “irrelevant rat” in a since-deleted tweet back in 2017, after she included his products in an anti-haul video.

“I blocked that irrelevant rat months ago, way before her ‘anti haul,'” he allegedly tweeted.

Aina called Star out for his “blatantly racist behavior” in a 2018 statement posted on her twitter.

“I have not and will not excuse his blatantly racist behavior — not his past references to me in derogatory terms, his continued use of the N-word, nor his efforts to eliminate spaces and opportunities for people of color,” her statement read.

Aina took a stand at the time and cut ties with Morphe Cosmetics, a brand that used to represent Star.

Morphe ultimately ended up cutting ties with him as well (earlier this year) as more allegations of racism mounted against him.

. @jeffreestar pic.twitter.com/5VUyCzfMf4

— Naira Banks (@jackieaina) September 29, 2018

The new iconic #VelvetTrap lipstick 💖 20 shades launching this Friday. pic.twitter.com/a3CrfvfIHe

— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) October 13, 2020