Bhad Bhabie jumped online to clap back at critics accusing her of trying to be Black, making it clear she identifies with her white Jewish and Italian background.
Since her viral “catch me outside” moment, Bhad Bhabie has faced constant scrutiny—from people questioning her cancer claims to debates about her appearance. One of the most persistent criticisms, though, has been accusations of “Blackfishing,” where non-Black individuals are accused of adopting Black aesthetics for personal gain.
Addressing the chatter, she recently posted (and later deleted) a series of Instagram Stories denying she ever tried to look or be Black, as captured by The Shade Room. Her response came after old photos resurfaced, with people comparing her past look to how she appears now.
She explained the difference comes down to growing up—switching her hair color, spending time in the sun, and getting lip fillers. She also claimed she didn’t always have control over her image early on, saying her management allegedly “forced [her] to wear that red ponytail for 5 years.”
Bhabie argued that the criticism feels inconsistent, saying people have judged both her old and current looks no matter what she does. “It literally does not matter what I do,” the 23-year-old wrote. “I have went as far as having my makeup Artist use a foundation on me that was three shades lighter and wore a blonde wig. And y’all still said I was trying to be Black.”
“I have never a day in my life said I wanted to be any other race but the race that I am which is white,” Bhad Bhabie continued. “I am Italian and Jewish. My father is Jewish. My mother was Italian. I was raised Catholic Italian. That is what I am. Tt is a mental illness to think you can magically know what someone else wants for themselves. Especially when they’ve never said that and they have denied it but you keep forcing it on them that is sick.”
Still, many people weren’t quick to give the “Honest” artist a pass, with some arguing her response came off tone-deaf and missed the point of the criticism. Whether the backlash dies down anytime soon remains to be seen as she continues to stay in the spotlight.
