Polish singer Kuba Szmajkowski gained an episode of a preferred actuality TV competitors on Saturday after he donned blackface and pretend cornrows and stated the N-word in a canopy efficiency imitating rapper Kendrick Lamar.
Szmajkowski appeared on the TV present Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo (Your Face Sounds Acquainted) to carry out a rendition of Lamar’s hit tune Humble.
The karaoke-style actuality present is a department of a longstanding worldwide franchise that sees celebrities from that nation impersonate randomly assigned musical icons.
Szmajkowski, who's white, took to the stage in darkish make-up, pretend corn rows and a beard harking back to Lamar’s personal look within the Humble music video. Throughout the televised efficiency, Szmajkowski, 21, rapped lyrics that included the N-word, which was not censored within the broadcast.
He went on to win Saturday’s episode — the second in Twoja Twarz Brzmi Znajomo‘s nineteenth season — and was awarded a money prize of 10,000 PLN (C$3,122). He'll proceed on within the actuality competitors for an opportunity to win the grand prize of 100,000 PLN (C$31,220), which will likely be donated to a charity of the winner’s selecting.
Instantly, Szmajkowski’s efficiency impressed outrage in Poland and past. Anger was solely intensified when he shared a video exhibiting his transformation into Lamar. The publish continues to be stay on Instagram.
Every contestant posted video of their musical icon transformations to social media.
The feedback on Szmajkowski’s publish, each in English and in Polish, accuse him of being racist and demand he apologize for the Humble efficiency and take away his social media posts.
“That is high racism. Do you not see how inappropriate that is? To not point out offensive?” wrote one English-speaking Instagram person.
“How are you not ashamed, man? Are there actually ‘artists’ in Polish present enterprise so unaware that some issues should not performed and sure boundaries should not crossed? Doing blackface isn't acceptable,” one other wrote in Polish.
“It's best to do that efficiency within the states, particularly Compton, California!” chided one commenter.
Szmajkowski isn't the one Your Face Sounds Acquainted contestant to make use of blackface; in the identical episode actor Pola Gonciarz darkened her pores and skin to carry out a canopy of If I Have been a Boy by Beyoncé.
The Polish model of Your Face Sounds Acquainted is produced by Endemol Shine, which is owned by the French mother or father firm Banijay.
Banijay instructed The Guardian that the corporate “condemns” Poland’s execution of the competitors present, because it “contradicts our group’s world values.”
“A subsequent inner investigation is underway and the suitable measures will likely be taken,” Banijay stated in a press release.
Previous to Saturday, white contestants on Poland’s Your Face Sounds Acquainted have donned blackface to carry out as Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Drake and several other others.
In 2021, after actor Tomasz Ciachorowski carried out Stronger by Kanye West whereas carrying blackface, the TV manufacturing stated it was “shocked” by the unfavourable suggestions.
“The intention of every star acting on the present, in addition to of the entire manufacturing crew, is to recreate the unique efficiency in essentially the most exact method, whereas honouring the unique artist,” the present stated.
Your Face Sounds Acquainted originated in Spain in 2011.
In 2021, the Czech iteration of the competitors sequence banned the usage of blackface.
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