Article Lead Image

Illustration by Jason Reed

Snapchat under fire for another racist filter

This time people are accusing the company of making a 'yellowface' lens.

 

Jaya Saxena

IRL

Posted on Aug 10, 2016   Updated on May 26, 2021, 7:10 am CDT

Yesterday, Snapchat users were introduced to a filter that, according to some, made everyone look like an offensive Asian caricature. The filter gave users slanted eyes, large teeth, and blushed cheeks.

https://twitter.com/mhroque/status/763085853652611073

https://twitter.com/bkisnah/status/763081209039745024

A Snapchat spokesperson told the Daily Dot that the filter has expired and will not be put back into circulation—also, that Snapchat lenses are never intended to offend.

But this isn’t the first time a filter has been considered, at best, questionable. Most notably there was the infamous “Bob Marley” filter, which put users in blackface. Then there was also the bindi filter, the numerous filters that appear to lighten the user’s skin, and the filter it was accused of stealing from artist Alexander Khokhlov. The company has also been accused of lifting filter ideas from multiple makeup artists.

Maybe this time, Snapchat’s learned its lesson? Maybe?

H/T Mic

Share this article
*First Published: Aug 10, 2016, 11:41 am CDT