Now that everyone has been sufficiently humbled and comfortably seated following the March 30 release of Kendrick Lamar's latest track and music video, actress and model Carter Kim is speaking out on the backlash and subsequent Twitter dragging that Lamar incurred from some black women in response to the subject matter and imagery featured in the video for his certified hit single, "Humble." Some of the songs lyrics urge women to present their natural features san filters and makeup.
I'm so fuckin' sick and tired of the Photoshop
Show me somethin' natural like afro on Richard Pryor
Show me somethin' natural like ass with some stretch marks
Still will take you down right on your mama's couch in Polo socks
Particularly controversial was a moment in the video where a split screen image showed a contrast of Kim's fully made up face and one without any makeup. Another shot shows an image of the model's natural derriere: cellulite, stretch-marks and all.
In response to critics, some of whom characterized Lamar's message and imagery as patronizing, misogynistic, and even perpetuating colorism that favors black women with fair complexions and wavy hair, 21-year-old model Carter Kim describes the backlash as "extremely frustrating.”
In an interview with Elle, Kim said, "I’m a little puzzled because a lot of it comes from African American women. I’m just like, why wouldn’t you empower another African American woman who’s just trying to pave the way for her career and also just represent us as women in a music video that has now gone viral. I would just think they would be happy with that, but everyone finds something.” She went on to address claims about her blackness, or perceived lack thereof. "A lot of people don’t really see that I am black. It’s been a journey,” she said. “My mom is full Korean, but she’s adopted, so she’s very Americanized now. I am Korean, French and African American, and that’s what I am aware of. My dad is black and French … I’ve gotten denied for being black a few times. Surprisingly, that has happened and I have gotten ‘not black enough.'”
However you feel about the controversy and the issues it has stirred, the single has struck a chord, debuting at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100, selling 111,000 downloads and 49.8 million streams.
