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A controversial performance on the Spanish version of a reality television show called Your Face Sounds Familiar has ignited a firestorm of criticism online.

Polish singer Kuba Szmajkowski, a white artist, chose to impersonate award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar, which is a great choice in and of itself, but it’s the way the contestant chose to go about the performance that has given many people the ‘yuk’.

Perhaps Szmajkowski has been living under a rock for the last decade, because the performer chose to use blackface makeup and uncensored use of the N-word during the live show. Didn’t anyone tell him we’re not doing dodgy racial impersonations anymore?

Your Face Sounds Familiar itself is a reality show where contestants mimic famous artists, and Szmajkowski delivered a cover of Kendrick Lamar’s 2017 hit single ‘Humble’. Great track, questionable medium of impersonation. Shockingly, despite the dicey portrayal, he emerged as the winner of season 19 of the show.

Before the episode aired, Szmajkowski shared a transformation video on Instagram, showcasing his startling change ‘into’ Kendrick Lamar. The video displays him wearing a bald cap, sporting fake cornrows and covered in blackface makeup, with three images of the actual rapper beside him.

Oof, you’ve dug your own social media grave there, buddy.

Another point of contestation was that Szmajkowski chose not to censor the N-word during the televised performance. However, the word has reportedly been subsequently edited out in the YouTube version. Criticism has understandably flooded the comments section, with one person stating, “You can appreciate the culture or the art without being offensive or doing blackface FFS.”

Yet another person urged self-education, writing, “PUT IT DOWN. Google BlackFace and learn from your mistake. It’s 2023.”

Previous seasons of Your Face Sounds Familiar have also featured white singers portraying artists such as Snoop Dogg, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley and Tina Turner. While the reality show airs in various locations, including former Yugoslavia and parts of central Europe, it has been noted that these regions lack the same history of colonialism and racial oppression as the US and UK.

That being said, it’s no excuse to perform ignorance on this kind of level when there are many resources to help folks understand the nuances of historical racism. And plus, even if the guy wants to stay in his little bigoted bubble, is it worth worldwide criticism and ‘cancellation’ across social media?

Step away from the face paint, dude, and join us in 2023.

[source:nme]