Snapchat Criticized For Blackface Bob Marley Filter On '4/20'
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) - Snapchat says a controversial filter used by the popular image messaging application to honor a day popular with marijuana aficionados is not racist.
Wednesday marked April 20 or "4/20", a day which many people who enjoy cannabis consider to be a national holiday, and Snapchat decided to offer a "Bob Marley" filter to celebrate the date.
The filter allowed the user to superimpose a Bob Marley cap and dreadlocks to a facial image, and also darkenened the user's skin tone.
People flooded social media with accusations that the filter was "racist" and that it promoted "blackface."
oh god @snapchat you didn't pic.twitter.com/lBZUHZKODg
— Casey Johnston (@caseyjohnston) April 20, 2016
They so easily could've made that Bob Marley filter without black face and still get the point across. so ignorant
— Fairly Odd Daddy (@hotdad) April 20, 2016
A Snapchat spokesperson released the following statement in regards to the filter:
"The lens we launched today was created in partnership with the Bob Marley Estate, and gives people a new way to share their appreciation for Bob Marley and his music. Millions of Snapchatters have enjoyed Bob Marley's music, and we respect his life and achievements."