Hollywood mainstays Julianne Moore, Kristen Bell, Stanley Tucci and Aaron Paul were among the many white celebrities who participated in a gray scale video about owning their role in systemic racism called “I Take Responsibility.” But it’s not exactly going over well.
Much like the “Imagine” video spearhead by Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot, which featured 25 of her famous friends singing the famous John Lennon song, the PSA is being perceived as hollow. Consequently, Kehlani and Chika are among the many who have taken to Twitter to voice their frustration with the seemingly well-intended yet off color gesture.
“white people, now is not the time. we do not need a greyscale PSA over soft, emotional music with a scripted apology some of you couldn’t even bother not to look like you’re reading,” she captioned the post. “this is tone deaf. i’m sorry.”
Kehlani replied in Chika’s comments, “was nothing learned from Imagine?”
white people, now is not the time. we do not need a greyscale PSA over soft, emotional music with a scripted apology some of you couldn’t even bother not to look like you’re reading.
this is tone deaf. i’m sorry. https://t.co/uahBedXalP
— CHIKA ? (@oranicuhh) June 11, 2020
Chika — who’s been extremely vocal on social media in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd — continued with her views in the comment section and explained her position.
“you don’t get ally points for regurgitating what black people across the nation have been saying for years. i get the thought behind it & it’s appreciated, but what really counts is using your influence and privilege to challenge our leaders. not simply empathizing w/ niggas.”
She added, “no shade cuz i got a couple homies in this. but i am side-eyeing. this is what we mean when discussing the white savior complex. what did this video achieve?”
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Bell, in particular, is facing a healthy dose of backlash for participating in the video. The Good Place actress voices an African-American cartoon character Molly in the Apple TV show Central Park. She’s also being accused of promoting colorblindness in her new children’s book The World Needs More Purple People.
Needless to say, Twitter is having a field day with the “I Take Responsibility” video primarily at Bell’s expense.
Check out some of the reactions below.
I KNOW I didn’t see Kristen Bell in the “I Take Responsibility” video when shes literally voicing a POC on tv. Go back to Arendelle please. pic.twitter.com/9gOha77arJ
— Yonklerr (@Yonklerr) June 11, 2020
Kristen Bell making a video about taking responsibility for racism whilst simultaneously not taking responsibility for playing the part of a biracial woman is peak white privilege and peak 2020.
— CB_Tells (@cb_tells) June 11, 2020
kristen bell posted cop propaganda for days but now wants to “take responsibility” pic.twitter.com/3B1lDLhwYP
— cam (@thatssofunn) June 11, 2020
Sarah Paulson, Kristen Bell and all the other faceless celebrities stopping racism pic.twitter.com/sI9xxngt8H
— vanessa shabligoo #BLM✊?✊?✊? (@CapriiKal) June 12, 2020
I honestly couldn’t watch that “I take responsibility“ video. It was fucking ridiculous. I tapped out after Aaron Paul and his lawyer hands. Or maybe it was Kristen Bell with her hand over her heart. lmaooooo
— Imani Gandy ☄️?? (@AngryBlackLady) June 12, 2020
Now why, in a world full of actual people of actual colors, would Kristen Bell need to make up purple people to teach children about living in a multicultural society? And why does she think she has the range to do that anyway? Most White people don’t know anyone but Whites.
— Musings on History (@MusingsHistory) June 12, 2020
This is for white kids because what the fuck girl @KristenBell???????? PURPLE?????? Y'all will identify with a fucking fictional purple person rather than actually interacting with non-white people. Fuck you. https://t.co/PR8die5jSN
— Bruce Willis Stan account (@Be_ll_adonna) June 12, 2020
bro when i saw kristen bell and stanley tucci pic.twitter.com/L6bMr1sl73
— stream ungodly hour ♡︎ (@yanishahidi) June 11, 2020