A French TV show, Sept a Huit (Seven to Eight) has been called out for racism after dressing up an intended rape victim in blackface to “protect her identity,”
What We Know:
- A teen girl, who identified as “Nina”, appeared in the show to discuss her experiences and to discuss her book, Papa, Viens Me Chercher which means Father Come and Get Me in English.
- Nina explained how she was raped at a young age which created conditions for her to later become a prostitute. “Since this was done to me, I decided to take back power and convince myself that I have power, precisely by sleeping with men for money,” she said.
- Rather than choosing to air the interview without showing “Nina’s” face, she was dressed in a darker skin tone and a wig of the kinky, curly, and “frizzy” texture to make her appear like a black person.
- Host, Harry Roselmack, who is Black himself, defended the decision and denied being racially insensitive to users. He stated that producers didn’t intend to mock the victim, nor offend anyone but were trying to protect her.
- He went on to accuse viewers that they weren’t properly acknowledging the issue of child prostitution. “The real substantive debate, the societal debate supported by the brave testimony of this teenager and her father has been left in the background,” he said.
- “The choice of this makeup was made after tests, by experts, with the agreement of Nina and her parents,” said Roselmack.
- This is n’t the first time a guest on the show was disguised to hide their identity. A person that went by “Hugo” also appeared on the show wearing white face makeup, a fake nose, wig, and glasses as he testified about his abuse.
- Blacklash has shifted, especially after viewers got a look at the man presented as the teen’s father, who was presented as white.
The black community will rise and respond publicly to what is considered disrespectful.
