Asian makeup artist is accused of ‘blackface’ after transforming into Kobe Bryant – but claims she was ‘just paying homage’ to the late NBA star
A TikToker who filmed himself putting on makeup to look like basketball legend Kobe Bryant has come under fire for the clip – with some accusing him of ‘blackface’.
TikTok user @easy_baobowho is Asian but lives in the United States, posted images of herself wearing an LA Lakers vest before using makeup, a latex cap and fake facial hair to look like the basketball star -ball, who died in January 2020 in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles.
More than 180,000 people have since liked the clip, but many of the backlash comments are negative – while others are defending the footage, saying it’s clearly a fan tribute.
A second similar video was captioned “Kobe is forever in my heart”.
@easy_babao posted more videos of himself doing makeup to look like other famous stars including Audrey Hepburn. Cate Blanchett and Heath Ledger in The Joker.
TikTok user @easy_baobo after using makeup to look like late NBA basketball star Kobe Bryant; the ten-second clip drew backlash from some
While one person felt his transformation into another ethnicity was “absolutely black”, others said the video felt “somehow wrong”.
The term blackface originated around 200 years ago when non-black actors on stage and screen began using makeup to appear as a caricature of a black person. It is considered deeply offensive and racist.
One person commented, “They call it blackface because it’s literally blackface.”
The debate spilled over to Twitter after the video was shared – and some defended the TikToker saying its intentions were good.
The make-up artist showed off her transformation in a step-by-step video – but some said the clip is an example of blackface
Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant died three years ago in a helicopter crash. TikToker @easy_baobo said the video showed the star was ‘forever in my heart’
One Twitter user wrote: “I agree I don’t think there is any negative intent behind this but I’m not going to say what is or isn’t sensitive for any specific group especially when there is a story.”
Another added: “Blackface always intended to insult or ridicule black people. This is certainly not the case here.
Basketball icon Brant was killed on January 26, 2020, along with eight others – including his daughter Gigi – in a tragic helicopter crash in the hills outside of Los Angeles.
Bryant and the other passengers were heading to Gigi’s basketball game at her Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif., when poor visibility saw the helicopter crash into the hilly coastal landscape.
