Pearl Thusi's cute bikini snap turns into a colourism debate
Can people of the Twitterverse leave Pearl Thusi to post her bikini snaps in peace? No they cannot!
Pearl Thusi has once again found herself at the centre of a colourism debate after flaunting her amazing body in a sexy throwback bikini picture.
"Brown skin girl... skin just like pearl’s..." the 'Queen Sono' actress captioned the image.
The picture received dozens of compliments on Instagram, including some sweet comments from the 32-year-old's famous friends.
"Sexy!" Ayanda Thabethe wrote.
Basetsana Kumalo added: "Jou biscuit....wena uyi Eet-Sum-Biscuit @pearlthusi as you know your aunty @princessshumi she is an Oreo. My tribe is hotter than yours. Just saying peeps. "
But back at the ranch - the Twitter ranch that is - peeps were not so kind.
Some Twitter users took offence to Pearl - who is light-skinned - calling herself a brown skin girl.
"You're not brown sis. Use some lyrics from songs about light-skinned girls," one Twitter user added.
You're not brown sis. Use some lyrics from songs about light skinned girls
— 💫YOUR RICH AUNTY💫 (@Zoemkoena) August 4, 2020
Another tweep told Pearl the song is for dark chocolate women only.
"Sis Pearl, this one is ours. Please let us have our moment of fame in peace, thina bo DARK CHOCOLATE! Yellow bones have had their chance, there are so many songs about them and we didn’t complain so please let us have this one hle."
ALSO READ: "So proud of you" - Priyanka Chopra sends Pearl Thusi some love
Sis Pearl, this one is ours. Please let us have our moment of fame in peace, thina bo DARK CHOCOLATE! Yellow bones have had their chance,there are so many songs about them and we didn’t complain so please let us have this one hle. pic.twitter.com/9vBKletfpG
— Royal Couture (@child_of_Afrika) August 5, 2020
As the debate raged on, one Twitter user tried to be the voice of reason after a woman told the masses that "brown is between light and dark" while Pearl is very light.
"I hope you realised that this is rooted in very colourist principles you were force-fed all your life. The song is called brown-skinned girl and not dark-skinned girl to include ALL shades of brown. The latter does nothing but cause more division."
I hope you realised that this is rooted in very colourist principles you were force fed all your life. The song is called brown skinned girl and not dark skinned girl to include ALL shades of brown. The latter does nothing but cause more division.
— #JusticeForLebo (@LwaziBatala) August 5, 2020
Here's a look at what others had to say.
You must have felt intelligent after that tweet neh. Yellow bone is a made up term that y'all made to exclude others. Brown identifies all of us. Title of the song is Brown skin girl not Dark skin girl . Y'all are always pressed over stupid things pic.twitter.com/AeorEz6Je3
— Rose (@Rose45322397) August 5, 2020
I swear you'll fight for everything, kanti caramel don't fall under brown shade???😂
— ❤❤❤ (@NthabiMakeki) August 4, 2020
If "Pearl Thusi" is not brown, then she is what? Because she is definitely not white🤔😩moss Beyonce was talking about all shades of brown heeee banna!!!😂bathong folang hleng!Heal mahn!😂😩❣ pic.twitter.com/FaGhg10ybx
Social construct or not, lighter/fair skinned black people and people of colour are treated better than their darker skinned counterparts. So when darker skinned counterparts are beings uplifted, it's disrespectful to come it. It's like the AllLivesMatter white people. Think.
— Chocohontas🇿🇦 (@TSomething17) August 5, 2020
Khawume! This songs is about Colorism not makeup shades! pic.twitter.com/pausFAf8CB
— Royal Couture (@child_of_Afrika) August 5, 2020