MAC Cosmetics took to Instagram Wednesday to post what it thought was a simple photo showcasing one of its lipsticks during New York Fashion Week, not realizing the image would cause a slew of racial comments. The photo features a close-up shot of an African-American runway model's lips, painted with the company's dark Matte Royal lipstick, and the caption: "Royal romance at @ohnetitelny #AW16. #MACBackstage #NYFW." While all the popular brand intended to do was showcase the beautiful deep brownish-purple lipstick color, others decided to post racist remarks in the comment section.
Ashley Alese Edwards, a news editor at Mic, decided to post a screenshot of some of the racist comments to Twitter to show just how mean people were being and bring attention to what was going on. "What happens when MAC posts a photo of a beautiful black woman's NATURAL lips on Instagram," she wrote.
"Holy shit I thought this was Jay Z," one user wrote. "Wtf are these lips," another added.
Her tweet eventually went viral and people started to respond to the racist comments, slamming those who had mean things to say, while praising the model for how beautiful of a photo it was, according to Attn. Some users even pointed out the fact that white celebrity Kylie Jenner is often praised for her full lips, which are fake, while this black model is being criticized for her full lips, which are natural.
"All of you whites hush. This is what your precious queen Kylie Jenner ever wished for #blackisbeautiful," one user wrote. "All the people talking about these lips are the same ones who want these lips, or worship Kylie Jenner and her 'lucious lips,'" another added.
Once MAC realized that so many people were posting hurtful comments, they took to Twitter and Instagram to fight back. "MAC stands for and respects All Ages, All Races, All Sexes," the brand wrote on Instagram. "We celebrate beauty of individuality, and the confidence to be who you are."
The 19-year-old model from the photograph, Maryse Kaye, also responded on her personal Instagram account, although the post has since been deleted, according to Digiday. "As I turn 20 in a couple days this is a reminder of what I endured in the past and if I survived middle school in America I can get over this," she wrote. "The bullying and alienation from others solely based on my features and skin color did not stop me from doing what I want."
A photo posted by M∙A∙C Cosmetics (@maccosmetics) on Feb 19, 2016 at 10:56am PST
