Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Rihanna Responds To Dutch Magazine's Racial Slur

Rihanna has taken to Twitter to react to a fashion writer's comments in a recent issue of the Dutch magazine Jackie. In addition to referring to Rihanna as the "ultimate n---abitch," the article states that the singer is from Jamaica, when she is actually from the Barbados.

While readers were shocked by the magazine's language, description of the singer and factual inaccuracies, which have been translated by Parlourmagazine.com, the singer herself called the magazine out for their comments.

"I hope u 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, civilized information to print!" she wrote on Twitter. "There are 1000's of Dutch girls who would love to be recognized for their contributions to your country, you could have given them an article. Instead, u paid to print one degrading an entire race! That's your contribution to this world! To encourage segregation, to mislead the future leaders to act in the past! You put two words together, with the intent of abasement, that made no sense ... 'N---a Bitch'?!....Well with all respect, on behalf of my race, here are my two words for you ... F--- YOU!!!"

The magazine has taken to Facebook to issue an apology for the use of the racial slur, with a note from its editor-in-chief, Eva Hoeke. "First: thanks for all your responses. We are of course very fed up over this and especially very shocked. However I'm glad that we're engaging in a dialogue on this page ? not everybody does that. Thanks for this. Other than that I can be brief about this: this should have never happened. Period," Hoeke wrote.

"While the author meant no harm ? the title of the article was intended as a joke ? it was a bad joke, to say the least. And that slipped through my, the editor-in-chief's, fingers. Stupid, painful and sucks for all concerned. The author has been addressed on it, and now I can only ensure that these terms will no longer end up in the magazine," the statement continued.

"Furthermore I hope that you all believe there was absolutely no racist motive behind the choice of words. It was stupid, it was naive to think that this was an acceptable form of slang ? you hear it all the time on tv and radio, then your idea of what is normal apparently shifts ? but it was especially misguided: there was no malice behind it. We make our magazine with love, energy and enthusiasm, and it can sometimes happen that someone is out of line. And then you can only do one thing: apologize. And hope that others wish to accept it. From the bottom of my heart I say it again: we never intended to offend anyone. And I mean that."

Do you think the magazine's apology is enough? Tell us in the comments.

Hayden Panettiere Haylie Duff Heidi Klum Heidi Montag Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank

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