Sky Ferreira responds to racism accusations over 'I Blame Myself' video

Sky Ferreira has responded to accusations of racism following the release of her new video for ‘I Blame Myself’.

In the video, the pop singer is seen dancing with a black male crew who are made out to be members of a street gang. She then gets picked up by poice and interrogated, an allusion to her arrest last year for drug possession.

“I’m tired of seeing black people used as props,” wrote one commenter, while others called the video “a racist mess” and suggested that “these actors BECAUSE of their skin color are automatically reduced to the neighborhood setting you shot this video in.”

Responding with a lengthy Facebook post, Ferreira has said she feels “insulted” by the accusations.

“Not only do I find it insulting towards myself but I also feel insulted for the actors & dancers & my family in the video. No, I did not use black back up dancers as “props”. I never have and never will look at any human being as a prop. That’s disgusting. It’s also an idea that has never crossed my mind,which is what I find questionable of the people telling me that I did so.Dancers are objects?!?!?! How dare you! Dancers make things come to life. If they were white would they be considered “props”? I auditioned a bunch of dancers,all races & my dancers were the best ones.”

Ferreira then rejected the accusation that she is a “rich little white girl exploiting the black people & the ghetto”, adding that the video was shot in her home town of LA and inspired by 90s hip hop and Michael Jackson.

“I never exploited anyone & I don’t use people in any shape or form. My brother is half black. My cousins are black. My family is Latina & Native American. Some of my family is in the video.I wasn’t raised in a “white” house hold & I’m not little & I have financially supported myself since I was 15 years old. I’m a woman,not a fucking little girl. Because I have pale skin & green eyes doesn’t mean I was raised in Beverly Hills and have Swedish film investor parents or whatever some have created in their minds. Would you feel more at ease if I danced with a bunch blonde white boys at a mall? Should I consciously only cast white dancers for now on? If I’m racist does that mean you’re pro-segregation?!  I’m from LA & shot the video there. I referenced 90s hip hop videos and Michael Jackson because both of those things inspire me & played a big part of my childhood. “

Similar charges have been levelled against Miley Cyrus and Lily Allen in recent months, with viewers accusing them of using black dancers as props. [via Guardian]

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