Join us Sept. 24 in NYC to connect with execs from Digitas, Claire's, Marriott, Havas and others
Snapchat is no stranger to controversy, but a new filter has it facing allegations of racial insensitivity.
Today is April 20 and to celebrate the hazy holiday that is 420 — Christmas for potheads — the photo messaging app is offering a filter that lets people slap Bob Marley’s likeness on their own face.
It is unclear what Snapchat is smoking. The Internet quickly took notice of the tone deaf filter and took to Twitter to slam it as digital blackface and culturally clueless (Marley was from Jamaica! He smoked weed!).
Reached for a comment, Snapchat replied with the following statement:
“The lens we launched today was created in partnership with the Bob Marley Estate, and gives people a new way to share their appreciation for Bob Marley and his music. Millions of Snapchatters have enjoyed Bob Marley’s music, and we respect his life and achievements.”
We’d hate to see how Snapchat treats someone they don’t respect. Much of the online outrage looked like this:
Snapchat’s half-baked 420 nod is a Bob Marley blackface filter?! Dude was Jamaican! Did waaaay more than smoke weed. pic.twitter.com/t6tazxnMxT
— Brian Ries (@moneyries) April 20, 2016
That Bob Marley Snapchat filter is definitely blackface but also do we have to dress up as someone who was terrrrrrrrible to women?
— Scaachi (@Scaachi) April 20, 2016
Designer 1: how can we celebrate 420 in a tasteful way
Designer 2: hmm
*long pause*
In unison: bob Marley blackface! pic.twitter.com/Ksq6Jm58aR— TOPSHELFTYSON (@topshelftyson) April 20, 2016
Oh “Bob Marley” is trending hmm interesting let’s just see pic.twitter.com/jcoqK6JbJN
— Joshua Topolsky (@joshuatopolsky) April 20, 2016
Oh, damn, Snapchat — reducing Bob Marley to a 4/20 weed-and-dreads filter? Not good.
— Jeeves Williams (@jeeveswilliams) April 20, 2016
So @Snapchat, every single “pretty” filter is designed to make us look White and now you’re doing Blackface with a Bob Marley filter??
— fadumo (@faaaadumo) April 20, 2016
The Bob Marley Estate did not respond to a request for comment, but given their involvement maybe everything is irie.
More in Media
Walmart adds marketplace data, deeper AI features to Scintilla insights platform
The upgrade includes access to marketplace data, customizable dashboards, custom alerts, a deeper version of its Marty agent and a closer link with the Scintilla data platform.
How women athletes are betting on the creator playbook
Women athletes are increasingly leaning on content creation to build their brand, grow their sports’ fandom, and help close salary gaps.
Axios preps new Axios Direct feeds for AI models, agents as revenue tops 2026 goal
Axios has reached its revenue goal for 2026. Now the news publisher is building a new revenue stream to keep up the pace in 2027 and beyond.