What’s up guys, it’s Sussan Mourad with Clevver News, and Addison Rae was told she
needs to take a few lessons on ‘reading the room’ as she issues an apology for posting
an ‘insensitive’ selfie amid the Black Lives Matter movement.
We love Addison Rae for always using her platform to spread love and positivity, and for being
that little ray of sunshine we sometimes so-desperately crave.
However, her recent Instagram photo was met with tons of backlash as it wasn’t exactly
in good taste considering everything that is going on in the world.
Ok, so maybe it wasn’t as much the photo itself, more so the photo combined with a
Martin Luther King-inspired quote she used as a caption.
Sunday, Addison shared a series of mirror selfies to her Instagram page with the caption
that read QUOTE, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
The caption, let alone the entire post itself was immediately slammed by a lot of fans and
even celebs, who called Addison out for using an MLK quote on a post that had nothing to
do with bringing awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Fans began urging Addison to “read the room,” writing comments like, “BLM is not an aesthetic.”
Another user wrote, “I’m sorry but how is that picture even appropriate enough for
a BLM quote to be used?
Bye.”
While some others didn’t mind that she shared a selfie, but that the caption itself wasn’t
tasteful.
Another fan commented, “girl if you wanted to post a selfie just post it.
leave my mans martin out of it.”
Singer Gus Dapperton even called Addison out via his Instagram stories, writing, “Just
because you caption your selfies with an MLK quote doesn’t mean this isn’t shallow
as f**k.”
It seems that in a span of just a few hours, Addison got the message fans were sending
to her loud and clear -- although she kept the selfies on her page, she has since deleted
her caption and even issued a public apology to her 18 million Instagram followers.
Instagram account TikTok Room screenshotted her apology in the comments of her photo,
writing, “I am so sorry to anyone I may have upset with this.
My intentions are pure and this quote is something I believe in so deeply.
Again, I am so sorry and I’ll take it down.
I believe supporting BLM on social media is just as important as what I’m doing outside
of it, which I will continue to do.”
Addison also responded to a user who suggested she “read the room,” writing, “I agree,
I am learning and will continue to educate myself daily.
I try my best to handle things in the right way but I take full responsibility for not
correctly communicating or displaying it in a respectful way.”
Addison’s apology was met with very positive reactions from fans, who explained that they
respect what she had to say.
One user wrote, “The way she’s handling this is so amazingly professional like maybe
homegirl does have a brain.”
Another fan commented, “Respected.
She’s been very aware, I believe it was a genuine mistake.
At least she knows she’s wrong.”
Addison’s apology seems to be respected because of the fact that she has been very
vocal about the Black Lives Matter movement following the tragic death of George Floyd.
Last week, she attended a protest with her family and shared a photo of her little brothers,
Lucas and Monty, holding up a sign that read, “No Justice.
No Peace.”
She has also actively been using her Twitter account as a means of bringing awareness to
her fans by sharing links for ways to become an active participant in the movement.
Along with Addison, many members of the TikTok community have used their platform to speak
out and urge fans to do the same.
Charli D’Amelio recently took to TikTok to speak out against George Floyd’s tragic
death and made sure her followers are constantly educating themselves on the social injustices
happening in our country every day.
Sway House members Josh Richards and Bryce Hall are also launching new clothing companies
where they recently announced that some of the proceeds will go directly to the NAACP.
Everyone is learning the impact of their actions and inactions every day, but, like Addison,
who owned up to her mistakes and will definitely adjust her approach moving forward, being
educated will only benefit us all in the future.
And for even more ways you can help out and get involved with the Black Lives Matter movement,
we’ve linked resources down in the description below.
For more TikToker news, you can click right over here for all the details on why Lil Huddy
has gone silent amid the Black Lives Matter protests.
And be sure to let me know all your thoughts on Addison’s apology to her photo down here
in the comments.
I’m your host Sussan Mourad, see you next time.