Brian Barrett/WiredIt could be safe to assume the people over at Snapchat might have been celebrating 4/20 a little too hard when they came up with this. Users today were shocked to see a Bob Marley filter which featured blackface. The filter was created in celebration of today's weed-themed holiday. This controversy in and of itself also set off angry comments on social media from fans who want to remember the singer as more than just a poster child for marijuana. Snapchatters have been discussing the filter on Twitter with some users arguing that it is indeed blackface, and others are surprisingly stating the opposite.
Hey @Snapchat your Bob Marley filter looks an awful lot like blackface.... What were you thinking...?
? Seth Toplin (@sjtoplin) April 20, 2016
.@Snapchat capitalising on 4/20 with a blackface Bob Marley filter. Stay classy. ???
? Tim Grimes (@timmy) April 20, 2016
I opened Snapchat for all of 3 seconds and wasn't having it with this damn bob marley filter. Someone needs a lesson on #blackface...
— Ian J (@_IanJ) April 20, 2016
my issue with the bob marley filter is not even that its black face but rather they're summing up his life to just 4/20
— ALMTY BAM (@MrVicBam) April 20, 2016
Ok is anyone else seeing this Bob Marley snapchat filter? read: blackface filter? @Snapchat wtf ???
? Lauren L'Amie (@LameLAmie) April 20, 2016
Bob Marley snapchat filter or digital blackface
? A lex (@alexwmp) April 20, 2016
I just can't call the bob Marley filter blackface. I just can't
? Ck (@Ckizzle_) April 20, 2016
That Bob Marley filter on snapchat is literally blackface, also not to mention Bob Marley was so much more than just smoking weed
? Saumya Gulati (@saumya_gulati) April 20, 2016
I'm Jamaican and I'm not bothered by the Bob Marley filter, I hope permission was given for it...But it's not black face omg y'all so extra
? Dangerous Kime (@AckimeSaunders) April 20, 2016
Way to go snapchat! Bob Marley filter complete with blackface?! Genius!!
? Rata Tootie (@Sadbabybutt) April 20, 2016
It's not blackface if it turns you into Bob Marley, it's Bob-Marley-face.
? Apache Sun (@J_yClass) April 20, 2016
I'm not even mad about that blackface. I'm upset that bob Marley is mostly associated with smoking when he was SO much more #420 #snapchat
? Chigozie Ndolo (@GozieNdolo) April 20, 2016
Designer: Hey, anyone have a terrible idea they wanna make happen?
? Shane Morris (@IamShaneMorris) April 20, 2016
Snapchat Filter Guy: YEAH! BOB MARLEY BLACKFACE! DO IT!
Wired posted the above photo of what the filter looks like when used. Presumably thanks to the controversy, Bob Marley is currently trending on Twitter. Users are tweeting comments like "Did @Snapchat REALLY think it would be a good idea to introduce a black face Bob Marley filter?" A spokesperson from Snapchat told E!,"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."
Do you think this statement justifies their new filter? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Lauren Conrad plays around with Snapchat filters!