When Alicia Keys showed up to the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night, she continued her #NoMakeup movement. The public praised Keys’ fresh-faced look when she announced the change in May. But in the upon seeing her at the VMAs, some couldn’t handle her natural beauty.
Instead of viewers focusing on the message Keys shared honoring the 53rd anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, they dragged her.
Dashawn D. thought the “In Common” singer needed to leave the stage because of the lack of makeup.
https://twitter.com/dashawnnn_/status/770395551124840448
Seul suggested Keys remedy the look with some concealer.
I'm all for natural beauty but Alicia girl you not setting no trend with this no makeup shit. Put on concealer & call it a day
— No Boys Allowed (@Knox_Jiinx) August 29, 2016
Samara called for the #nomakeup movement to end since “we get the point now.”
Alicia Keys still on her #nomakeup campaign? She could have done a light beat, I think we get the point now. #VMAs
— SAMARA (@Styled_chic) August 29, 2016
Mahalia C. believed Keys did wear makeup and said the movement was “annoying and imaginary.”
https://twitter.com/MACnMahalia/status/770291429121794049
@BasedJane similarly accused the star of wearing BB cream. She also called Keys’ VMAs look “haggard.”
https://twitter.com/BasedJane/status/770287207458476032
Yet, the singer’s look did not just extend to the VMAs. She appears as a coach on NBC’s The Voice this season and is makeup-free on-air.
Keys explained why she would not wear makeup going forward, saying she didn’t want to “cover up” anymore.
Her fears of being photographed without cosmetics made her realize her thoughts were “based too much on what other people thought.”
The songwriter was compelled to address the criticism on Twitter. Evoking messages used in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Keys said not wearing makeup didn’t mean she was against it.
Y'all, me choosing to be makeup free doesn't mean I'm anti-makeup. Do you! 😘😘 pic.twitter.com/Mg0Ug9YA9q
— Alicia Keys (@aliciakeys) August 29, 2016
Her husband, music artist and producer Swizz Beatz, also commented on the issue.
“You mad because that person didn’t put on makeup to please you?” he said in part. “Type of s— is this? Cause you can do whatever you wanna do. She didn’t tell y’all don’t wear no makeup. She just said that she’s not vibin’ with the makeup all the way 100 percent like that. ”
A few hours later, he posted a photo of the spouses laughing on the red carpet.
The caption read, “Me: Babe you don’t have any makeup on the carpet. Her: I know my love.”
But users supported Key’s bare-faced look too.
@DopeEthiopian saw the singer glow without using beauty products.
This whole no makeup ever thing Alicia Keys is doing has her glowing everywhere she goes.
— RN (@DopeEthiopian) August 29, 2016
Roclie Nell shared how inspirational the move was to women.
https://twitter.com/RoclieNell/status/770088901113483266
And @MadBlackPoet shut down the haters for “pushing your insecurities onto other people.”
All the ugly women of Twitter complaining about Alicia Keys needing to wear makeup. Smh. Stop pushing ur insecurities onto other ppl.
— Locs & Brews (@MadBlackPoet) August 29, 2016
