Between Kanye's uncensored A-bombs and Taylor Swift's awkward moment reflecting on her lost innocence at last year's show, everyone is taking about the VMAs. But there's one performance you may have missed: will.i.am's adventures in "blackface."Yes, will.i.am joined ubiquitous up-and-coming rap star Nicki Minaj for a pre-show performance of their new single, 'Check It Out,' and the Internet just about exploded with heated criticism against the Black Eyed Peas frontman, who happened to have his face painted black. He was also wearing a ridiculous plastic hair cap, but we're gonna let that one slide. So, he was technically blackfaced, but not really, right? Still, plenty of people seem to think otherwise.
Much ado about nothing? Will.i.am thinks so.





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He is not wearing blackface. He's just painted to match his outfit.
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I think it's funny that African American folks think their skin is actually black. It's BROWN the last time I checked my box of Crayolas. His face was painted black to match his black outfit. If his outfit was dark brown he wouldn't have had to bother.
This is just a particularly weak and pathetic attempt at a publicist to stir up some controversy. This is really just a big yawn.
If Will.i.am wants to look like a charcoal-skinned buffoon,that's his business. I certainly take no offense at his idiotic attempt at artistic impression.
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Whoops...That was supposed to be artistic EXPRESSION. Mea culpa.
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WHO CARES?? With all that goes on in this crazy world we live in, who really cares that he painted his face black? Some people just love turning ANYTHING into a racial issue. Gimme a break already!!!
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"Blackface" is what al jolson did-very offensive-
Will.i.am just painted his face black to match his outfit he looks ridiculous but not offensive
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I don't see the difference.
Why is it that everything cebrities do is interpeted as negative, contreversial, or racial in some way? The guy painted his face to match the outfit! A little strange perhaps, but definetly not what some people are taking it as. You adults get so hyped up over nothing...why is it that teenagers don't feel this way, I wonder?
~ A teenage girl
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its you and will's lack of knowledge of this whole black face thing that is the problem , black face is something that was used in the late thirty's to disrespect black people ,because we were not allowed into white shows to perform white actors painted there face black and put the down are race ,this why no one puts on black face .
The Olsens should'nt have canceled their show.
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not racist, even if he yelled n i gger all night long. HE CAN DO THAT CAUSE ITS THEIR WORD!
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Hey, idiot. A certain race does not own a word. It's everyone's word. If they can use it, I can use it. If they have a problem with it they shouldn't be calling eachother it. If they want to claim ni**er, then whites should be able to claim "cracker".
If you truly believe someone to be an idiot, why bother respond to them?... Well, that is, unless you're one BIGGER idiot. The fact that you have an OPINION contrary to that of another, doesn't warrant abuse or an air of self righteousness. By now, if we don't at least understand that there can only be one RACE, the human one, we should at least be clear that OPINIONS are like A**HOLES, by God given right, everybody has one.
1) Mike: that is ignorant for you to think that, it is not African American's "word". Racist, ignorant white people created that derogatory word intended to put down blacks.
2) Colleen: You are just the sort of ignorant white person who thinks "because they say it, then I can" deductive reasoning, stupid. You are clearly racist refering to all black people as "they." I see you were raised right.
3)No one wants the word cracker, you can have it if it means that much to you, which is outright ridiculous. You sound ignorant so you should practice keeping your mouth shut and using your newly acquire word (cracker) in the privacy of your bedroom.
@Colleen, If that is how you feel, If "they" can say it then so can you, then why don't you say it in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn (my home) and see what happens. I dare you!!!!!!!!
I really don't see the big deal. it was just part of his costume, outfit whatever you want to call it. Nikki was looking like a futuristic super hero, he had to go all out as well. Just leave it alone.
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Isn't he already black??
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