A Wren Says

When she applied the brown lip liner, softened the edges, and added the layer of gloss, Hailey Bieber likely had no idea controversy would come of her posting “Brownie Glaze lips.” As her fans clamored to copy her and call the technique Hailey Bieber lips, they did so with the bliss of ignorance. After all, it was just makeup. Just a lip look perfect for the neutral tones of fall. And then it happened.

Multiple people have called Bieber an appropriator. First, she stole Justin and now she’s stealing our looks, the very look that Black and Latina women were labeled ghetto for wearing. But then you have just as many people in the comments sections of the articles and videos writing, “Are you all serious? It is just lip gloss!” But is it just lip gloss?

Whenever I see the words “cultural appropriation,” I am sure that it is never really about that thing.

If I read into the commentary here, this is not about lip gloss. This about a group of people making a point and asking for the respect they feel they have been denied. I imagine this is not about whether or not Hailey Bieber can wear a particular style of makeup. It is about whether or not they can. “When I do [insert particular behavior at the center of this controversy], what will your reaction be? What then will your opinion be? Will you still have the same admiration for it? Will you show me that same energy?”

I don’t think anyone necessarily wants Bieber to stop wearing lip gloss or for anyone to remain uninspired by those who are different from them. They just want to be able to practice their own culture without harassment. They want their humanity validated rather than devalued. They just want your respect. Can you give them that?

If you didn’t hear about this already, here is a snippet from Good Morning America about it: