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Marc Jacobs Responds to Backlash Over Dreadlocks Controversy

He read the comments.

Last week, Marc Jacobs debuted his Spring 2017 collection at New York Fashion Week. The collection was immediately shrouded in controversy over the fact that Jacobs used rainbow colored dreadlocks and yet did not cite Rastafarianism or any aspect of Black culture as a reference. 

Yesterday, Jacobs took to Instagram, the platform where most of drama took place, to say that he has "read all of your comments."

He also apologizes for his lack of sensitivity and emphasizes that he does not discriminate. He must really be feeling some intense heat still because he goes on to say, "Nothing is gained from spreading hate by name calling and bullying." 

While true, the degree to which people are angry on the internet can read very extreme and severe, the desperation and passion felt by a community who feels that they can no longer be silent is going to resonate in a major way. 

I feel for Marc Jacobs right now because being the focus of an angry internet mob in 2016 is probably one of the top five worst experiences,but before this apology, he also posted Instagram photos of two articles that were written in defense of the dreadlocks, which I think emphasizes that he is still missing the point. I never thought Marc Jacobs was a racist, not once, but his prickly responses suggest that he is still unaware about the root of the problem. 

No one is denying his right to put dreadlocks on whoever, whenever. They could have been used on his adorable famous dog, Neville Jacobs, and no one would have cared if it was at least acknowledged that this was a decision inspired by and futhermore made possible by the sheer existence Black culture. 

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