Media

Dutch magazine apologises for racist language in Rihanna article

By | Published on Wednesday 21 December 2011

Rihanna

Dutch magazine Jackie has apologised after it published an article in its latest issue referring to Rihanna as “the ultimate niggabitch”. Titled ‘De Niggabitch’, the piece offers fashion advice on how to dress your children like Rihanna and also incorrectly identifies her as being Jamaican.

Translated into English by Parlour magazine, it reads: “She has street cred, she has a ghetto ass and she has a golden throat. Rihanna, the good girl gone bad, is the ultimate niggabitch and displays that gladly, and for her that means: what’s on can come off. If that means she’ll be on stage half naked, then so be it. But Dutch winters aren’t like Jamaican ones, so pick a clothing style in which your daughter can resist minus ten. No to the big sunglasses and the pornheels, and yes to the tiger print, pink shizzle and everything that glitters. Now let’s hope she won’t beat anybody up at daycare”.

On Monday, Jackie’s Editor-in-chief Eva Hoeke published an apology on the magazine’s Facebook page. In it she said: “This should never be allowed to happen. The author meant no harm – the headline of the article was meant as a joke, but it was a bad joke, to say the least. And it slipped through my fingers. It’s stupid, painful and sucks for all concerned. The author has now been addressed on it, and I will ensure that this kind of wording no longer appears in the magazine”.

She continued: “I hope that you guys believe that there was absolutely no racist motive in the choice of words. It was stupid, it was naive to think that this was an acceptable form of street language – hearing this sort of language on the radio and TV apparently shifts your idea of what is normal – but it was also especially misguided. There was no malice intended”.

Taking to Twitter to give her opinion on the matter, Rihanna said: “I hope you can read English, because your magazine is a poor representation of the evolution of human rights! I find you disrespectful, and rather desperate! You ran out of legit, civilised information to print! You put two words together, with the intent of abasement, that made no sense… “NIGGA BITCH”?! Well with all respect, on behalf of my race, here are my two words for you… FUCK YOU!”



READ MORE ABOUT: |