Apex Legends Blackface Cosplay Controversy

Overview

Apex Legends Blackface Cosplay Controversy refers to a public backlash toward Twitch streamer Karina "Krupups" Martsinkevich, who wore blackface while cosplaying as the black Apex Legends character Lifeline. Twitch banned Martsinkevich for 30 days for "incitement to hatred towards a person or a group of people."

Background

On April 13th, 2019, Martsinkevich, a Twitch streamer from Lithuania, applied blackface makeup in an attempt to cosplay as the Apex Legends character Lifeline in the "Just Chatting" section of the site (screen capture below).^[1] Following the stream, Twitch banned the streamer for 30 days.

Developments

Martsinkevich's Response

The following day on the Russian social media website VK,^[2] Martsinkevich wrote, "The guys, as you already know, the administration of Tvich considered our cosplay unacceptable. In the near future I will comment on the situation. So far, I can be found on YouTube (karupups). I hope we can still help and do not have to wait 30 days. Thanks for the great support! Thank you for not leaving one in this situation! So, boys and girls, like cosplay?🙈" The post received more than 1,400 views (shown below).

She also said that the cosplay was not meant as a racist statement. Blackface has been used for racist and stereotypical depictions of black people since it originated in the 1800s. She said,^[3] "It was just an image, nothing more. There was a big online, the guys asked how I dyed my hair, how make-up felt on my face, etc. They were interested. And in fact, many of those who threw the reports, then wrote to me in the Discord, they say, get a ban, we tried…"

On April 14th, she posted a YouTube video, explaining her intentions. The post received more than 37,000 views in two days (shown below).

Online Reaction

Many reacted negatively to the cosplay. Twitter ^[4] user @kayyybearxo tweeted, "Some people dont seem to understand why painting your skin darker is wrong. Being black isnt a costume you can wear when you want. At the end of the day, you can wash off your face paint and never have to deal with anything that real POC people have to deal with…" The post received more than 260 retweets and 1,500 likes in three days (shown below, left).

Twitter^[5] user @STR_TN tweeted, "I don't feel it's necessary to alter your skin color to cosplay a character. Anybody can cosplay a character, regardless of the sex/ color of the character and cosplayer. I completely believe she meant no offense, but maybe color changing make up is best left alone" (shown below, center).

Twitter^[6] user @ShannonBaker tweeted, "How am I just hearing about a twitch streamer doing black face on her stream? She gets temporarily banned but is saying 'thank you' to all her followers saying that she did nothing wrong. @Karupups you aren’t sorry if you are saying thank you" (shown below, right).

Media Coverage

Several media outlets covered the controversy, inluding Kotaku,^[1] Dexerto^[3] New York Post^[6] and more.

Search Interest

External References