Dear Blake Lively,

Much to my mother’s chagrin, I watched you a lot on Gossip Girl in my youth. Whenever she asked me why I would watch such vapid tv (as though there were much else out there), I would tell her it was because I wanted to watch an ethnicity other than ours act a fool on TV, even if it was fictional. I also liked the fashion. I haven’t seen much of you since Gossip Girl went off the air, and to be honest, I didn’t even miss you like that. The privilege you enjoyed as your fictional character, I soon realized you likely enjoyed in your real life. The micro-appropriations of black culture that your show was riddled with seemed to have stayed with you as well. Why else would you think it would be all good to describe yourself as an “LA face with an Oakland Booty” on your Instagram page? Obviously, you knew that Oakland natives like me wouldn’t be here for it, even if you were just quoting a Sir Mix-A-Lot song (have you ever even been to Oakland?).

Welp, Twitter never lets me down, so let’s check in:

But some people defended you:


While others reminded us to keep our eyes on the prize:

Either way, Blake, while I find your post extraordinarily removed from reality, I also find it hilarious. I don’t know… maybe you’re trying to become more relevant? Maybe you just like Sir Mix-A-Lot?

I don’t know that I find it horribly problematic. After all, it’s not like you’re running for President or something. BUT, in light of my previous affection for your long-gone show, Gossip Girl, I’m going to offer you a final piece of advice in the form of another rap lyric:

“You ain’t gotta lie to kick it.”

Sincerely,

Dom Jones

What did you think of Blake’s post? Sound off in the comments below!

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appropriationBaby Got BackBlack twitterBlake LivelycultureGossip GirlInstagramLively on InstagramOaklandSir Mix A Lot