Little Women star Florence says she’s sorry for ‘culturally appropriating’ her cornrow hairstyle
LITTLE WOMEN actress Florence Pugh has apologised for wearing her hair in cornrows as a teenager – admitting she is ‘ashamed’ of adopting ethnic trends.
In a lengthy explanation on social media, the 24-year-old star said she had been guilty of cultural appropriation and branded her younger self ‘uneducated’.
Miss Pugh recalled proudly showing off her newly styled cornrow hairstyle when she was 18 to a friend named Holly.
She wrote: ‘That summer, red carpets were full of famous, white women with either one side of their hair shaved or braided.
‘I asked Holly if she liked them, she paused and said, “Erm... in my school you’re not allowed to get them any more”. I gasped, thinking that’s so unfair. “Why?!”
‘She answered, “It’s cultural appropriation. The school felt it necessary to ban them”. She began to explain to me what cultural appropriation was, the history and heartbreak on how when black girls do it they’re mocked and judged – but when white girls do it, it’s only then perceived as cool.
‘It was true. I could see how black culture was being so obviously exploited.’ Miss Pugh, who received a nomination for the Best Supporting Actress category at this year’s Oscars for her role in Little Women, also wrote on Instagram:
‘Over the summer of 2017, bindis [coloured dots worn on the centre of the forehead by Hindus and Jains] and henna [a paste associated with positive spirits and good luck] became a trend.
‘Every top high street shop was selling their reimagined versions of this culture. I remember seeing large make-up brands selling an “Easy! Quick Dry!” henna ink pen and stencil in large commercial pharmacies. No one cared about the origin, a culture was being abused for profit.
‘I felt embarrassed. I felt sadness for the small family-run Indian shops all over the country, seeing their culture and religion cheapened everywhere.’
The actress also expressed regret for painting a hat with the colours of the Jamaican flag during her teens and being ‘proud of my Rastafarian creation’. She wrote: ‘At the time I honestly did not think that I was doing anything wrong. Growing up as white and privileged allowed me to get that far and not know.’
She added: ‘I am truly sorry to all of you that were offended for years or even just recently. I cannot dismiss the actions I bought into years ago, but I believe that we who were blind to such things must acknowledge them and recognise them as our faults, our ignorance and our white privilege and I apologise profusely that it took this long.’
David Beckham famously wore his hair in cornrows in 2003 but has previously said that he now regretted the decision.
Discussing the long line of hairstyles he has chosen in his playing career, the former England captain told the BBC’s Graham Norton in 2015: ‘The topknot wasn’t too bad but the braids were a bad decision. It was bad timing as well as I was going to South Africa at the time with England and ended up meeting Nelson Mandela, so that’s why I regret that one.’
Actress Alice Eve was targeted by trolls in 2017 over online pictures showing her hair in cornrows during a holiday in Jamaica.
One online critic said: ‘You take what you like from us but don’t get the pain that went with it.’
Another wrote: ‘Let me guess – you only did that because you were in Jamaica?’ Miss Pugh’s remarks come after comedian Leigh Francis made an emotional apology for wearing masks to play a number of black stars – including Michael Jackson and Mel B – on his Channel 4 sketch show Bo’ Selecta! in the early 2000s.
Ant and Dec have also apologised for appearing in blackface on their Saturday Night Takeaway show more than 15 years ago.
‘ We must recognise our faults and ignorance ’ ... SO WILL BECKS BE THE NEXT CELEB TO APOLOGISE?