Pharrell Williams continues to have an amazing year from a musical standpoint. However, he has faced backlash since making the “new black” statement during an interview with Oprah on her OWN Network.
Many blacks were upset with Pharrell’s assessment of how racism is perceived within the black community. The statement was made after Oprah questioned Pharrell’s use of white women and a mixed woman on the cover art for his latest album, Girl.
In an attempt to show that women of all shades are beautiful, Pharrell used a brown-skinned black woman for the cover art for his latest single, “Marilyn Monroe.”
He released the cover on April 22 and several individuals on social media blasted Pharrell for using a black woman for the cover art. Some were upset because Marilyn Monroe was not the best role model and others were upset by the race factor.
Here are some comments:
Marilyn Monroe was the iconic hollywood made female stereotype. drug addicted, chronically depressed, type B… well played @Pharrell
— lp. (@theladypaige) April 23, 2014
Is Pharrell unaware that Marilyn Monroe was white or is he trying too hard to make the people that were mad bout his album cover happy
— eric (@The_EricFritz) April 23, 2014
First they mad at @Pharrell for not having a black woman on Girl cover (even tho he did) now yall mad he got a black girl as Marilyn Monroe
— TWEETZ IS WATCHIN’ (@TShyne) April 23, 2014
Pharrell has yet to comment on why he chose a black woman to be featured on the cover, but it was a controversial move that will only increase the race debate.
