The prom reveal videos have gone viral all over social media, and everyone has had their say, including Real Housewife of Potomac cast member Candiace Dillard Bassett. She’s facing backlash for commenting on a popular clip of two Philadelphia teens who went all out to celebrate their prom night.
Social media, specifically Black Twitter, is dragging Bassett for calling the elaborate celebration tacky. However, the “Deep Space” singer is not budging on her opinion.
On Saturday, Bassett shared a clip of Pennsylvania teens @1.jmariee and @younglilzah going to prom. The extravagant festivities featured the two teens impeccably dressed, surrounded by friends and family as they stepped out into a storm of confetti, a DJ and a massive balloon wall. There was even a custom billboard that read, “Zahir’s Edition.”
Most people thought the lavish send-off was a flex and possibly a display of pride for the families of the teens. Dillard, however, was not impressed. She tweeted, “I pray this tacky overdone prom trend is over by the time mine are ready,” wrote the housewife. “We not doing this. They look nice though.”
To be a celebrity and use your platform to dunk on children is wild to me. Whether you like prom season or not, that’s why we’ve got group chats…or you could’ve kept this to yourself.
But these kids didn’t deserve this at all. https://t.co/AJpMfsAKwn
— Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) May 22, 2023
The weird bitterness from grown adults regarding the first time many of these kids get to dress up and express themselves and celebrate after two years of pandemic learning, a mass shooting crisis and all the other shit they have to deal with will never make sense to me. https://t.co/T7B4zVmeIh
— Lakyn Thee Stylist (@OgLakyn) May 21, 2023
Since sharing her opinion, Bassett’s tweet has been seen over seven million times and has gained a bit of criticism along the way. Some followers even found images of Bassett’s past fashion choices that may have been questionable, suggesting this was a situation of the tacky pot calling the tacky kettle black.
Tacky you say? pic.twitter.com/MAZ7IAgsoH
— 😒 (@overlyyork) May 21, 2023
Not her calling kids celebrating prom “tacky” when she dresses like this lmaooo https://t.co/aPgsWsMUFR pic.twitter.com/WBbB9IKGsV
— Page Ray (@PageRay) May 21, 2023
Despite the backlash she’s facing, Bassett isn’t backing down. She replied to the critics letting them know she’s not changing her mind by tweeting “I said what I said” to one user and “It’s too grown. I don’t like it. And I’m not changing” to another. She also tweeted, “I will be treading at the same 5-6-7-8 kickball change, two step that I always have and you can stay mad. This has nothing to do with money and everything to do with tact and what is appropriate for children. Philly will be alright.”
The debate continued when some Twitter users accused her of being classist due to her formal upbringing full of “cotillions” and “generational wealth.” Although she was presented with the argument of other cultures producing extravagant coming-of-age celebrations for their teens, including quinceañeras and bat mitzvahs, Bassett stood her ground, saying “I hear you! I still think it’s too grown.”
