14 DAY TRIAL // Tattoo artist, television personality and glamor girl Kat Von D is refusing to apologize in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding the name of a lipstick color, “Underage Red.” In a lengthy post on her Facebook, she explains where the inspiration for it came from, what it really means and how she’s not to blame if people found offense with it.
Moreover, she says, those who did find the name offensive should look at themselves because that’s where the problem lies: if you read “underage” and you immediately think of something nasty, you’re the one with the problem.
Kat Von D is verbose, unapologetic
You will find Kat’s entire explanation available below: she starts off by saying that she never meant to cause any offense because she never endorsed and / or glamorized in any way the kind of behavior she’s accused of supporting by naming a shade of lipstick “Underage Red.”
The name has been out in Sephora stores for 7 years now, together with another shade of red named “Lolita,” and was one of the first shades she put out. She takes full responsibility for everything included in the line and says that the backlash against Sephora is unnecessary: while they do sell her products exclusively, they don’t own her brand and have no say in the creative process.
“‘Underage Red’ is not a girly, pink shade. It is not a sophisticated, deep red either. It is an unapologetic, bold red. To me, ‘Underage Red’ is feminine rebellion,” Kat writes. Those who “know” her and everything she stands for probably understood the message. Those who don’t are those who found the name offensive.
She has no plan to apologize for causing offense, she continues: she did nothing wrong in naming a shade of lipstick “Underage Red” because she meant nothing by it more than “feminine rebellion.” Apologizing would mean that she agreed with those saying she was somehow at fault, which isn’t the case.
Scandal continues, Sephora is caught in the middle
Right now, “Underage Red” is sold out, Kat continues, shutting down reports that Sephora had already backed down under public pressure, pulling the color from its stores. Several years ago, the same happened with a shade called “Celebutard,” which was deemed offensive because it made a mockery of people with disabilities.
Kat insists that the lipstick will be back on the shelves as soon as possible, since she has no intention of giving in to those saying it should be pulled. Sephora is yet to address the controversy, but chances are it won’t resupply the stock of “Underage Red,” because it simply can’t afford to lose customers.
Back when “Celebutard” was pulled, Kat was equally unapologetic, claiming she had the right to express herself as an artist as she saw fit - pretty much like she does now. Sephora didn’t back her up then, so it probably won’t now either.
!!!! RT @ParkerMolloy: Went shopping for some makeup. How on earth is this a lipstick color? pic.twitter.com/BZcKzQixDp
— Ana Marie Cox (@anamariecox) March 15, 2015