I grew up in the depths of hell.
A lot of the people where I’m from aren’t traditionally attractive people. For me, being blessed with beauty is a blessing and a curse.
OK, that’s not actually true. I grew up in the suburbs 40 miles west of Philadelphia. My entire childhood was generally unremarkable, and all my friends went through the same requisite awkward phases in middle and high school. I’m just quoting South Philly native Amber Rose, who dissed her hometown on Revolt’s Drink Champs podcast earlier this month.
Rose told Drink Champs host and rapper N.O.R.E. that she grew up in a “very poor neighborhood” where her looks served as a drawback, Philly.com reports. “I don’t know how I can say this without sounding fucked up, but a lot of the people where I’m from aren’t traditionally attractive people,” she said. “For me, being blessed with beauty, as beautiful women know, is a blessing and a curse. To grow up in such an area and be blessed with beauty, it was very difficult for me.”
Whew. There’s a lot to unpack there. First of all, it’s probably unwise to insinuate that an entire section of a city is ugly, especially when that city is home to millions of the meanest motherfuckers in the country who will rip you to shreds, even if you’re one of their own. Twitter users also accused the mixed-race Rose of colorism, as her remarks could be interpreted as saying she’s more attractive than the other women who lived in her predominantly black neighborhood. “Amber Rose’s comment is one the reasons why there’s a stigma of light skin women thinking they’re prettier than everyone,” one user wrote.
https://twitter.com/Maat___/status/890663585625538561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.refinery29.com%2F2017%2F07%2F165592%2Famber-rose-south-philly-traditionally-attractive-controversy
Amber rose really tried it, just say you think you're prettier than any philly girl cuz you mixed and go head
— 🦀🐐🦀 (@KhalynaB) July 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/LunarSnow1/status/890685655470055429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.refinery29.com%2F2017%2F07%2F165592%2Famber-rose-south-philly-traditionally-attractive-controversy
Rose took to her Instagram story to clarify her comments.
“I know people really want me to be a superficial bitch, but I’m just not that person. I find beauty in everyone,” the model and entrepreneur said. “Unfortunately, it’s not easy doing interviews and saying things the way you really want to articulate them. It’s like when you send a text message to someone and they’re like, ‘Why do you have an attitude?’ And you’re like, ‘I don’t have an attitude.'”
https://twitter.com/IamAkademiks/status/890717399015673856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.refinery29.com%2F2017%2F07%2F165592%2Famber-rose-south-philly-traditionally-attractive-controversy
Such remarks are not the norm for Rose, who has long advocated for women’s empowerment. In 2015, she led the first annual SlutWalk to honor all women who faced judgment for their sexual behavior and take a stand against gender inequality.
Rose also told Complex on Wednesday that she’s dealt with “six, seven years of constant bullying” from ex-boyfriend Kanye West.