BET's Stephen Hill Issues an Apology for Tasteless Blue Ivy Joke
Yesterday on BET's countdown show 106 and Park, Karrueche Tran delivered an extremely tasteless joke about two-year-old Blue Ivy Carter's reactions at the Video Music Awards, "I really did wake up like this because my parents never comb my hair." The ill-advised attempt at comedy drew immediate backlash because many of are, quite frankly, sick of the joke being on little Black girls.
Today BET Networks' President of Music Programming and Specials, Stephen Hill, issued an apology for the show's writers via Twitter.
(1/4) Last night on 106 & Park there was a stupid, unthoughtful joke made about a young child.
— Stephen Hill (@StephenGHill) August 26, 2014
(2/4)We apologize publically to the child’s parents (and have done so privately) and we have taken punitive actions with those responsible.
— Stephen Hill (@StephenGHill) August 26, 2014
(3/4)It was very bad judgment and we will serve you much better in the future.
— Stephen Hill (@StephenGHill) August 26, 2014
(4/4) Oh, and please don’t hate on Karrueche; it was NOT her fault. We also apologize to her for putting her in that position.
— Stephen Hill (@StephenGHill) August 26, 2014
I'm sure the network wants to do it everything it can to keep their relationship with the Carters in tact, so the apology isn't surprising. It's just unfortunate that adults can't restrain themselves from making fun of natural Black hair.
Kimberly Foster is the founder and editor of For Harriet. Email or Follow @KimberlyNFoster
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