For black people, last night’s (Aug. 30) MTV Video Music Awards was a joke, and it seemed to be on them. With the racism and cultural appropriation epidemics running rampant among pop stars, rapper wannabes and the general public alike, the (usually) coveted award show became a two-hour poster child for the issues at hand – and not in a good way. From the show’s host traipsing about in dreadlocks, to Rebel Wilson’s tasteless and insensitive joke about the police, the 2015 version of MTV’s biggest production was not a great look.
Straight from the desk of social media, allow us to tell you why we’re mad, shall we?
1. Rebel Wilson’s police “joke”
The Australian (figures) actress began her quip about police with “A lot of people have problems with the police,” before proceeding to take off her clothes and joke about strippers and “injustice” in a “F**k Tha Stripper Police” t-shirt. All before presenting the Best Hip-Hop Video award. Yes, really.
Dear @MTV FYI, making a “police joke” about “injustice” right before the presentation of the hip-hop award is SUPER not funny.
— They Call Me 4-Eyes (@GoldingGirl617) August 31, 2015
2. Miley Cyrus’ dreads
Prime cultural appropriator Miley Cyrus wore dreadlocks. So there’s that.
Cultural appropriation at its finest. I’m ashamed to be reading something like this. #VMAs pic.twitter.com/OLZJ3R0fjp — dulcie (@DULCXXX) August 31, 2015
3. Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” video
That one time Taylor Swift premiered a video shot in Africa – with all white people in it.
FYI: Taylor Swift went to Africa to film a music video and there’s only white people in it http://t.co/LqSdpNoaTA pic.twitter.com/lQpRElpASA
— The FADER (@thefader) August 31, 2015
4. Miley Cyrus’ use of the word “mammy”
Ms. Cyrus kept the offensive party going by using the word “mammy,” which is directly associated with rendering black women unattractive and as caregivers for white children and families and used as a motif to signify “the help.”
they found just cause for miley to say the word mammy w/ fake dreads in her hair after… *throws up hands* — Tracy LaFway Clayton (@brokeymcpoverty) August 31, 2015
“Mammy” pic.twitter.com/kuwgo2lsNm
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) August 31, 2015
5. Miley Cyrus’s reaction to Nicki Minaj
While most viewers weren’t really sure if the Miley/Nicki exchange was real or staged, once it was confirmed as a genuine encounter, folks were offended by Miley’s snarky reaction. She was the one who offered her two cents on Nicki Minaj after all, calling her “not too kind” and “not very polite” in an interview that surfaced before the show.
Nicki: What’s good?! Miley: pic.twitter.com/tM78rJuhv8 — Mr. Credible Hulk (@Pundit_AcadEMIC) August 31, 2015
6. A joke about the death of The Notorious B.I.G.
In a skit alongside Mike Will Made It and Tyga, a Ouija board was asked to reveal who was responsible for the death of The Notorious B.I.G., to which the board attempted to respond “LAPD.” Biggie’s death is not funny. Neither is the killing of people by the LAPD.
Did they just make a joke the LAPD killing Biggie? Dear God, Miley is tone deaf. #VMAs
— Nick Morrow (@NRMorrow) August 31, 2015
Did they just make a Biggie joke? #VMAs — Phaedra (@vrayisgod) August 31, 2015
Biggie death joke…….. wow. #VMAs
— Jordan Bradshaw (@JordanAytch) August 31, 2015
7. That “White Squad commercial…
Amid all the other displays of disrespect, MTV aired their “White Squad” campaign commercial, which is allegedly a part of the network’s anti-justice campaign. But no. Just no.
So apparently White Squad is a new MTV campaign to confront prejudice but…these jokes on the #VMAs??? Girl. Bye. Yall full of it. — Care Free Black Girl (@DaisahR) August 31, 2015
“White squad…” Me: #VMAs pic.twitter.com/xnK98uCcyo
— ELIEL CRUZ (@elielcruz) August 31, 2015
8. Snoop Dogg played a pig. Miley Cyrus ate a weed brownie and got so high she hallucinated that Snoop Dogg was her pet pig. Her. Pet. Pig.
The fact Miley made snoop dogg a fucking pig tho? Of all things? A pig? “You’re not my pig anymore!” Omg. Then she calls out Kylie. Disgustn
— Prince Oikiwi (@RottingPrince) August 31, 2015