A Polish music expertise present is going through a backlash for that includes contestants in blackface impersonating Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce.
Singer Kuba Szmajkowski was topped the winner of the second episode of Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo – the Polish model of the worldwide franchise Your Face Sounds Acquainted – on Saturday after performing Lamar‘s observe Humble.
The singer wore blackface make-up and in addition had cornrows, and shared photographs of him on the point of 163,000 followers on Instagram. Throughout his efficiency, he reportedly additionally used the N-word.
Performing Beyonce‘s If I Have been A Boy, fellow contestant Pola Gonciarz additionally darkened her pores and skin to carry out.
Many social media customers have criticised the present and the contestants – calling the usage of blackface racist, disgusting and offensive.
“Google ‘blackface’ and be taught out of your mistake. It is 2023,” one Instagram person commented on certainly one of Szmajkowski’s posts.
Sky Information has chosen to not use photographs from the present that includes contestants in blackface.
Neither the contestants nor the present, which additionally featured impersonations of stars together with Ed Sheeran and Anthony Kiedis from the Pink Scorching Chili Peppers, have commented publicly on the criticism but.
However following an identical backlash over a contestant performing in blackface in 2021, producers issued a press release saying the programme “tries to point out nice performances, which attempt to be as near the unique as potential” and highlighted different tributes to artists together with Whitney Houston and Stevie Marvel.
It continued: “The intention of every star acting on the present, in addition to of the entire manufacturing group, is to recreate the unique efficiency in essentially the most exact method, whereas honouring the unique artist.”
Sky Information has contacted representatives for each contestants, in addition to Endemol Shine Poland, which produces the collection, for remark.