Let's Talk Politics - Nicki's Nazi Imagery and Khloe's KKK Joke...UGH, #Cringe #MIZ
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What's that expression? OH, yeah, friends don't let friends....
In the past few days, two things have been getting slammed all over the internet/ social media. The first of course being Nicki Minaj's "Only" video, and the second being Khloe Kardashians instagram with a supposed light hearted KKK joke. So basically, we have two groups that truly terrify me and that I can't even talk about because of their horrific history, that have somehow made it into pop culture this week.
Alright. Let's break this down.
Nicki's "Only" Video
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Well, I heard about this video by word of mouth and when someone describes it to you for the first time you're like WHAT do you MEAN?!! WHY, WHY would Nicki make that video?! There's really nothing else to do but ask why over and over because you're just trying to think literally about why or what compelled her to make this video in the first place. The next you're thinking is what does the video have to do with the song at all?! Then the next think you're thing is WTF IS this SONG?!
The video debuted all over the place this week and has received nothing but backlash. Naturally. So, what really went on with this video? There has been a ton of speculation, articles and interviews trying to understand...WHY. Well, after doing some research, I came across a recent Rolling Stone article (which can be viewed HERE), which further discusses the matter.
While Nicki has since apologized to fans via social media outlets saying: "I didn't come up with the concept, but I'm very sorry and take full responsibility if it has offended anyone," and according to the article, Nicki's video director is the one who is not sorry saying that of course the imagery is direct inspiration from Nazism, which I mean we all knew, but he also explained that it was very much intended to be the way it was saying:
"As far as an explanation, I think it's actually important to remind younger generations of atrocities that occurred in the past as a way to prevent them from happening in the future," Osborne said. "And the most effective way of connecting with people today is through social media and pop culture. So if my work is misinterpreted because it's not a sappy tearjerker, sorry I'm not sorry. What else is trending?" --- via Rolling Stone
OH. Nicki also goes on to further express that her producer in charge of the video and videographer are both Jewish (and so is Drake) and everyone was on board with the video's artwork. Hmmm. SO, there is A LOT of just kind convoluted info that I don't think anyone can be to sure about WHY the actual video idea came about. I DO think that whether they were trying to make a point or not, they should not have expected there NOT to be backlash and reaction to the video. I also think that the fact that it's animated makes it kind of gimmicky, which then no one is going to take seriously in the first place. I do not think that the video is glorifying nazism I think it's intended to show how awful the time was, but I think that it just wasn't executed too well, and if they wanted to make a point, they should have considered using other imagery, because this was obviously going to cause an uproar. I do believe in artist expression and freedom of speech and all of that, but some things are always going to be touchy. There is also the concept that this was all just an attention ploy, which could be true. I mean we all saw Anaconda, Nicki is not known for being shy and wanting no attention. Soo over all, was this video a bad idea? Yeah. Should they have gone about it a different way? 100%. Would have been best to have avoided completely.
Khloe's KKK Joke
I mean...this was just dumb, dumb, dumb. I love Khloe, she's hilarious and I know she was just trying to make a joke referencing her family's love of black men, which we all make fun of, I mean I litterally just did in a recent blog post the other day, but then there's taking it a little too far. And like in the picture the sisters are all in white...like, ugh NO though. Are people offended by this? Yes, of course. There has been a lot of "OH NOO she didn't" back lash of course, but people everywhere from different mulitculture facades are angered by the KKK instagram saying that as a famous women with an incredibly diverse and obviously multicultural family, she should not have been so stupid to have posted that to her instagram with a follower base of 14.5 million people....Jesus. As a white women who does date black men and is actually surrounded by a lot of black people, she should know why making a KKK joke isn't hysterical. The worst part was Scott, who also regramed the insta, which means more and more people saw the post, even though he tried to lighten the moment with the comment "...and Jews" cause he's Jewish. I think he tried to make it better and take some of the spotlight away from Khloe, but it didn't work.
Khloe has since taken down the image, and replaced it with another instagram about everyone in life being a little fucked up, but like...was that her apology? Ugh. Now, again I know Khloe was just poking fun at herself and everyone in her family, but like Nicki and her video team, it was silly to think that this was NOT going to offend anyone. And ironically the Kardashians especially Khloe (like I love her) have SO MANY black girls looking up to them...it was just dumb, dumb, dumb. I'm also pretty sure Khloe did not make the meme, someone else did and she just posted it to her insta, but like she shouldn't have to avoid what was coming. Should have just let that float around in cyber space and let the creator take the blame.
Side Note: I gotta say, I def don't think Kanye found that joke to be funny. At all.
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I think both Khloe and Nicki just made aggressive moves this week. You can't lightly throw around Nazi imagery and name drop the KKK in a joke because there is too much awful history behind both to be be used as a funny joke...Khloe...or video...Nicki unless of course, there is some clear as day message, which there wasn't in either because someone is always going to be offended and sometimes it's just better to avoid it. Avoid the hate people. That's just easiest. I don't think that either of the two meant to intention harm any race, religion, etc, just the way these things were presented came across in the not the best way. Ugh, life.
