u/AdrianaLaServing

These are separate instances but I’m putting them into one post because of the similarities.

Mel B’s experience:

“The very first video shoot I did as a Spice Girl for 'Wannabe,' the stylists took one look at my hair and told me it had to be straightened," she wrote in the caption alongside a photo of her in a plaid top. "My big hair didn't fit the pop star mould. But I stood my ground — backed by my girls — and I sang and danced as me with my big hair, my brown skin and I was totally proud of who I was."

Tracee Ellis Ross’ experience:

“The Golden Globe winner also told Washington about a defining moment early-on in her career at the Essence Music Festival: "A woman was like, ‘Girl, you’re on TV. You need to get your hair done’,” Ross recalled. “And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ She was like, ‘Put some heat on your hair! What are you doing?”

—

Picture 1 shows Mel in a BTS shot of the Wannabe video filming, and picture 2 shows Tracee in the show Girlfriends.

This is still sadly pretty common but we are slowly getting better as a society and, although it still happens, there’s faaaar more representation for natural Black hair textures in media nowadays — and any racism is getting called out a lot more. Model Leomie Anderson called out the difficulties Black celebrities go through regarding their hair and makeup, in 2021. This was widely shared — shocking and educating non-Black people.

I would recommend The Hair Tales, hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross. It’s a six part documentary focusing on the beauty and history of Black hair, featuring famous Black women as guests.

Poor girls couldn’t even walk safely!

In a 2003 episode of the now controversial show Punk’d, hosted by Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba was followed around by a naked man (Dax Shepherd) in a clothing store. She, understandably, was angered and very uncomfortable while being sexually harassed.

Ashton Kutcher had notably considered himself an advocate for anti-CSAM and anti-sex trafficking initiatives, even co-founding the charity Thorn. Kutcher — who, as a side note, had been a friend of Diddy — resigned from Thorn in 2023 after it was revealed that he, and his wife Mila Kunis, had written a letter in support of actor Danny Masterson after he was convicted of raping two women — with a further rape charge resulting in a hung jury.

A lot about this show sure didn’t age well, did it?

The original version of the 2004 song ‘Let’s Get It Started’ was entitled ‘Let’s Get R*tarded’ and its lyrics made frequent use of the slur. The original was released in 2002.

The title and lyrics were changed, and the song and music video were re-recorded, after The Arc of the United States — an organisation serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — successfully lobbied for the change.

It wasn’t until 2022 when the song was replaced by ‘Let’s Get It Started’ on all digital copies and streaming platforms. It still is available as part of the full ‘Let’s Get It Started’ EP on iTunes, though.

WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON HERE?! Why did they write this, perform this, why did a record label produce it, and why did the public love it like it was all totally okay?! It feels like some weird SNL skit!

The Black Eyes Peas remixed the song in 2009 as ‘Let’s Get Re-Started’, which is just making a joke out of the whole thing with the tongue in cheek reference to the R slur. I guess some people don’t learn their lesson.

We’re kicking off the first ever WTF! Wednesdays post with this crazy Big Brother punishment that I still get a laugh out of 16 years later — as excruciating as it must have been for them!

In 2010, DJ and singer Basshunter had broken a house rule and was subject to a punishment. He had to choose another housemate to join him and chose rapper Lady Sovereign.

They were trapped in the room until around 4:30am of the next morning and were subjected to sleep deprivation and musical torture, with Basshunter’s own song ‘All I Ever Wanted’ playing over and over again.

I REALLY liked this song back when it came out, but now all I ever think of is this when I hear it!!!

(I do not find the concept of the punishment funny at all, Lady Sovereign’s reactions are just so funny and adorable! They handled it surprisingly well!)

The ambulance and police car clips are from when Britney was taken to the hospital due to a mental health crisis. The paparazzi actually filmed her through the window of the ambulance while she was strapped to a gurney — I haven’t included that part as it just made me uncomfortable showing something so private and vulnerable for her.

Additional to the horrific psychological effects and physical harassment, can you imagine having bright flashing lights blinding you everywhere you go?!

Posting this here isn’t to say that everyone was pro-paparazzi and happy about this back then, just that it was deemed acceptable enough to do. They got away with this harassment for a long time just fine, unfortunately.

(I’m so sorry, my app glitched and I think posted this 4 times!!! I’ve tried to fix it now 😅)

In picture 3, you can see Paris holding Britney’s skirt so paparazzi wouldn’t take an upskirt image while she got in the car. Those pictures were common practice at the time; you can see one of Britney in picture 1. Thankfully, upskirting is now illegal in a lot of places.

These examples are from 2006.

Sorry, the only footage I can find of this is when someone recorded their TV.

This is from 2014, on The Xtra Factor, which was a UK show that aired after The X Factor to debrief. It aired live.

Louis Walsh and Mel B were judges on The X Factor and doing a post-show interview with the other judges.

Mel pauses the conversation and says, “Why are you grabbing my butt?” and moves away from him.

She was brave to call it out as she did — good for her! — but everyone acted like it was some joke and Louis got in no trouble for this.

At the end, the host says jokingly, “He’s of control again, Louis! Always!”

To state the obvious, we know now that Kelly’s relationship with Aaliyah was the tip of the iceberg, but this is one of the best examples of his disgusting behaviour being brushed off at the time.

Aaliyah, who sadly passed away at only 22, in a plane crash, started working with Kelly when she was 13 or 14 — he was her musical mentor. It’s alleged that the grooming and sexual abuse began at this age. They were illegally married when she was 15 and Kelly was 27, and her age was forged as 18 on the certificate.

When the marriage certificate was leaked to the press, after ongoing rumours for some time, some people had ish to say — BUT, people looked riiiight past this so that they could continue enjoying Kelly and Aaliyah’s music. Some people even blamed Aaliyah, slut shaming her like she wasn’t a child, like the grown man wasn’t to fault.

Aaliyah even released an album, under Kelly’s mentorship (i.e. control), at age 15 called ‘Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number’ 🤢 Kelly wrote the titular track and you can see him looking creepy as hell in the background of the album cover. I wish she’d never had to put her beautiful name to this exploitative album.

The marriage was annulled, and records expunged, in 1997 and professional ties were cut. Aaliyah continued to be asked about Kelly in interviews and could not and would not discuss him at all. She also could not discuss him in her personal life. People who were close to her believe this was trauma related — and I don’t see how it couldn’t be.

It sickens me that R. Kelly was able to get away with awful, awful things for so long. This alone should’ve been enough to finish him and put him behind bars.

May Aaliyah Dana Haughton rest in peace <3