Highest Ranked

Will has a right to express himself. I just wasn't feelin the dark make-up. I get it now, getting a close up look, he was tyrin to look like a ken doll in 3-D. that explains the dark make-up to get that affect. I didn't understand before? He is a good singer, dance, performer. I like him because, he is an activist, humanitarian, and entrepreneur. I too see people makin this a racial issue. People can be so damn disrespectful and ignorant. That's wrong! Will you are right, there are far more and important things to talk about.

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High Ranked

Will.i.am is very talented and he's no stranger to edgy outfits. The outfit was OK but the black face makeup threw me off. I actually thought he was trying to make a statement ( what I don't know) or he had someting wrong with his skin and he was trying to cover it up.

For him to not know that black folks would respond like this...is perhaps worse than the black faced makeup. And another thing, Will is a public figure folks should be able to critique his attire if we choose to, without him saying there're more urgent concerns in this country. He's an entertainer at a public affair ( VMA'S ). Therefore, why should people blog on an entertainment site about education, jobloss and poverty? If Will.i.am can't stand the heat...then he needs to move far,far,far away from the stove ;)

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Neutral

I thought it was modern, gutsy, edgy move the combined future (outfit) with the past (blackface). I think he's a talented artist and of course, he's sending a message. He's teaching about the past (blackface was pop for decades running) with a keen eye to the future. When black people express a revulsion to the color black - those are blacks I'd rather avoid. He's obviously taking a cue from the Gaga phenomenon. Brilliant artist IMO.

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Neutral

Will's get-up was a costume. It was theater and I took it as such. I think that it is dangerous (a threat to free expression and one's right to self-define)that so much attention is being focused on the fact that he used black make up as part of the costume design, especially when the primary color of the outfit was black. I don't understand the racial in-sensitivity charge here. Black folk have always been creatively cutting-edge -- remember Grace Jones. Will's work speaks for itself. He is unique (Thank God) and he has a social conscious. He is not an unknown. Put his latest expression in line with this record. He has done nothing to denegrate Black folk or anyone else in his work to date. Look at the hair. What is to be said about it? Nothing, because like the rest of his costume, it was to create a character, someone other than himself or you or me, and viewers seem acknowledge this. I find it strange the things that upset Black folk. No one said anything when Ciara put on slave chains and allowed Justin Timberland (of the Janet Jackson debacle) to lead her around by them as she gyrated at the feet of her pretend master. Nothing! Her album and video met with praise. Strange. I do agree with the other blogger who said that people have a right to critque. Will put it out there and he has to know that people will talk about it. Isn't that one reason he goes to the levels that he does with his music and visual presentation? Will, however, also has a right to respond. Let's keep talking. We can transform the world for the better through critical dialogue. This is good stuff. Peace.

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Highest Ranked

Indeed will.i.am is a very talented and gifted individual. But visionary and conscious he is not, why would this negroe resort to baffonery and tomming. They house Negroes are there own Minstrel Show. He is nothing more than a 21ST. Century Uncle Tom. What statement did he really make other than making a ass out of himself.

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Neutral

Willi.i.am is an intelligent and talented black man. This is why it’s hard for me to believe that when he looked in a mirror (previous to entering the public) that he didn’t realize the adverse
reaction his blackface makeup would bring into play. Will.i.am has been black way longer than I have, and supposedly a socially conscious and
racially sensitive person/activist-therefore, how could he look in a mirror and not know that doing such a thing would be offensive.

Even though Will.i.am always wears dark shades-he's not blind. I personally believe that Will is an artist/creative genius, and he knew this would bring down a fury of backlash (publicity). The black faced makeup done its job very well ;)

If he wants to continue a dialogue about it-so be it but I’m no longer interested in being a part of his racially insensitive and socially UN-conscious/
publicity stunt!

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High Ranked

I GUESS WITH ALL OF THE CIRCUS PERFORMERS TODAY, THEY WILL BE SHOWING UP IN BLUE FACE, BLACK, WHITE, RED, GREEN, COLORS OF THE RAINBOW ETC.

DAMN WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DAYS WHEN PEOPLE DRESSED IN CLASS, NOTHING MORE BUT PURE CLASS AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING LIKE CIRCUS FREAKS.

SO PATHETIC THAT THE ARTIST TODAY HAVE TURNED LITTERALLY INTO CLOWNS AND CIRCUS FREAKS.

JUST DAMN RICDICULOUS

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