Lil’ Kim (@lilkimthequeenbee/Instagram)
Lil’ Kim’s fans were forced to defend the rapper — again — Friday, Dec. 16, after a photo reignited accusations and jokes about her bleaching her skin. The image in question features Kim with “Love and Hip-Hop’s” Yandy Smith and Kimbella and speculation emerged after onlookers caught it on Instagram.
Several Twitter users launched into the usual jokes about Kim’s rumored bleaching procedure.
Lmao RT @UberCiph: Lil Kim looks like one big skin graft
— Illari Purinsu (@BrilliantDum_e) December 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/PthaGoat8/status/809948158226796544
Lil Kim and Sammy Sosa got the same skin bleaching kit
— The People’s Tweeter (@MrMola_) December 17, 2016
Lil Kim looks like a banned commercial for skin bleaching cream not yet regulated by the FDA. pic.twitter.com/5Q9D5PuuIh
— Bazaar Daily News (@bazaardailyUS) December 17, 2016
But instead of joining in on the ridicule, some fans jumped in to defend Kim and look toward her deeper issues. In the past, the MC has opened up about struggling with her appearance, which is what she discussed while speaking to Newsweek in 2000.
“Guys always cheated on me with women who were European-looking,” she said. “You know, the long-hair type. Really beautiful women that left me thinking, ‘How I can I compete with that?’ Being a regular Black girl wasn’t good enough.”
Additionally, a video of Lil’ Kim proclaiming to be a “Spanish girl trapped in a Black girl’s body” surfaced after Twitter user Kimmy Blanco posted it Nov. 11.
Brittany Brunam exposed the hypocrisy of social media recognizing the issue with upholding European beauty ideals without realizing the impact it has on Black women’s views of themselves.
The fact European beauty standards isn't a thing in America..y'all love to RT the doll test and talk about
— 💋 Brittany (@BJ_Burnam) December 17, 2016
How the media is not diverse enough, commercials only have White women, and diversity to some companies is adding a red head
— 💋 Brittany (@BJ_Burnam) December 17, 2016
B.B Homemaker also took aim at contradictory statements from Kim’s critics.
https://twitter.com/mila_jaye/status/810567390387834880
Referencing Kim’s remarks in Newsweek, @IKilledBecky encouraged Black men to tell women about their beauty.
https://twitter.com/IKilledBecky/status/809961336306356224
@yvng_queen declared such jokes are the cause of Kim’s changing skin tone.
Wonder if people realize they are part of the reason why Lil Kim bleached her skin….
— DaejahDae (@Daejahdaee) December 17, 2016
Kim ultimately defended herself in a now-deleted Instagram comment captured by The Jasmine Brand.
“Ok but when the f— did I bleach my skin u miserable Moron!” the Queen Bee MC wrote. “My past post clearly shows that but u haters will always have something to say even when facts r right in front of ur face but I understand ur just doing ur job as a hater but understand this … I checked my calendar and I still won’t give a f— Neveruary the 1st either.”
