The owner of the Black-themed Instagram page “Daquan” has reportedly sold the brand for $85 million. However, the brand is not owned by a Black person.
On Sept. 5, VladTV reported that Warner Music Group purchased IMGN Media for $85 million. The company creates Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok pages and post memes and videos that are likely to go viral.
One of the company’s most popular sites is “Daquan,” which has 15 million followers on Instagram. The site, which features Black content, is owned by Barak Shragai, who is reportedly from Isreal. Shragai reportedly bought the page from a Canadian Black teenager in 2016, but the profile photos were never changed.
The recent deal caused some to view the Instagram account as a form of “digital Blackface.”
Here are responses on social media.
https://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/1302273668865646592?s=20
Agreed! But, the Daquan account had a solid Black audience and voice by 2016. I'm willing to bet Blacks are now contracted and undervalued to keep the content authentic and relevant. This feels like a Pebbles and TLC 360 deal. Smh. As a transactional attorney, it breaks my heart.
— Delegate Marlon Amprey (@marlonamprey) September 5, 2020
Not surprised one bit that the Daquan IG is not blacked owned smh
— BleekGilliam (@JC_APE) September 5, 2020
DaQuan selling for $85M to Warner is wild, him not being black might not be the most surprising thing in the world tbh
— Josh (@JoshuaOgundu) September 5, 2020
