SZA requested a black photographer for a magazine cover, got denied

[StrawberryBlond 15,020]

I really think some people need to realise that anyone can act entitled and it's not acceptable. You are all just assuming that you know the specifics of the situation when SZA provides very little information. She never mentions the context of her request being denied. If it was denied upon the offer of the shoot (which likely means that the publication doesn't employ non-white photographers), that's an issue. If she showed up on the day and demanded that the photographer be replaced, that's downright unacceptable. So many celebrities really believe they can make last minute demands and it holds an entire set to ransom, wasting time and money. And I bet some of them don't even think twice. Do any of you consider how this white photographer feels now that she's posted this? And if she did accept the shoot, we'll find out who it was soon enough when it gets released and we know it wasn't the ones she tweeted underneath, so it's an easy process of elimination. Have you ever been made to feel that your hard work isn't good enough? Now imagine that you were immediately disapproved of by your client because of the colour of your skin, implying that you wouldn't know how to do a good job or understand any of their needs? Obviously, a photographer will know more about photography than a singer does. It insults someone's work when you cast them aside like that and for such a reason. It's very telling that very few are even considering the photographer's feelings. Just put yourself in their shoes for just a minute.

Look, I'm a woman and a feminist and I would never feel comfortable asking for a female photographer. I don't feel comfortable asking for anything, really. I always think it's not my place or jurisdiction. I trust that a magazine knows what its doing and knows more about the shooting process than me. It's not my place to say who they should hire or provide. Unless the photographer's being a creep, I have no issue with them being a man. I can realise that men that occupy a huge part of the industry but at the same time believe that it's not their fault for wanting to pursue this career, that they need money just like everyone else and will hopefully produce good photos. Demanding that they be changed without even knowing what their output is suggests that I believe a woman would do a better job because she's a woman. Pretty much the only element in life where I'd request a woman would be for a doctor when dealing with a female issue. I'm amazed that anyone else feels comfortable with thinking they've got the right to say who deserves to work with them based on superficial factors.

At the end of the day, SZA can provide her own photographer if it's this important to her, she has the funds. But we should just let individual publications do their thing without interjecting. It's up to them how they want to run their business and be thankful for the amazing opportunity of exposure. It honestly wouldn't even enter my mind that I could request the specifics of what kind of photographer I could have upon given the invitation of a photoshoot. But celebrities tend to think the whole world should bend to their whims and demands come naturally to them.

2 hours ago, Leo said:

These comments seem to imply she's acting like a diva or making unreasonable requests. She's not asking for champagne and red M&Ms. She's asking for diversity.

Does that make her demanding?

I'm amazed anyone doesn't think it sounds demanding. As I was saying above, it wouldn't even occur to me that I should request what kind of photographer I'd get. I'd just be grateful to get this amazing opportunity and I just tend to accept the circumstances I get offered in life. Why can't celebrities do that? I find this no different to unneccesary champagne and red M&M's (which I'd also have difficulty asking for). I'm a very humble person who doesn't like asking for anything, so I find those who do more than a bit pushy. And it's not because she's a woman, it's not because she's a black woman, it's not because she's rich and famous. I don't care who someone is - you respect the jobs of others and trust that they know what they're doing. It's not my business to demand a magazine changes according to what I want. I somehow don't think we'd be having this same discussion if the request was not based around race. A racially based request shouldn't come above and beyond all other requests.

23 minutes ago, popatemyshart said:

Lol not some of y’all creating a hypothetical situation where Sza is screwing over a (white) photographer. Where are you getting this from?

We're not creating hypotheticals. SZA isn't providing the crucial piece of information about whether she asked for this upon the opportunity being presented to her or asking for a replacement on the actual day, when everyone's been hired and ready to go. Because it makes a huge difference depending on which one it is. Hence, we can only make assumptions based on what was provided. You are assuming in support of her as much as the rest are assuming against her. I really don't see why it's so racist to believe that it's wrong to make a magazine feel bad for not doing things exactly how you would like. I'd be just as disapproving if it was a white celebrity making any other sort of demand.

[thehanyo 4,251]

This is very common in our industry. I'm a white TV producer and have showed up to sets to interview Black actors/musicians and have been turned away because I wasn't Black. It's definitely humiliating because I've never offended anyone with my words before - just my face, I guess haha. But I understand the reasoning behind it and I try not to take it personally...

[PEZ 6,346]

BTW: Reimagined was announced as "very special collection of songs from the album reimagined by prominent artists from the LGBTQIA+ community and allies" -- are the posters who are up in arms over what SZA did upset over that, too? Are you worried that that's exclusionary and discriminatory and heterophobic, to focus heavily on LGBTQIA+ artists?

Or did you understand that it was about LGBTQIA+ people celebrating an already-LGBTQIA+-focused work, and meant in a positive way, not a negative way? And that it would sound silly to claim straight folks are being shut out? And if you can understand that, why does a Black woman wanting another Black creative to photograph her image and representation and story as a Black woman suddenly seem scary to you?

It sounds like community celebrating and uplifting fellow community members to me, just swapping sexuality/gender ID for race as the community basis. Also there would be more people present at a shoot than just SZA and the photographer, I'm sure she's not refusing to work or be in contact with all white people ever, in the same way BTW: Reimagined also has some allies contributing.

I think people are snowballing this request into worst-possible-future scenarios much more nefarious than the current reality actually is.

[ToxicHot 6,444]

I understand her desire for “inclusion” but..... this is ridiculous.  She’s literally sabotaging her career.  

[thehanyo 4,251]

10 minutes ago, PEZ said:

and allies

I don't disagree with you, but this isn't a good analogy, because "allies" are included.

[GagaSine 7,464]

White supremacist daily strikes again 

[StrawberryBlond 15,020]

16 minutes ago, thehanyo said:

This is very common in our industry. I'm a white TV producer and have showed up to sets to interview Black actors/musicians and have been turned away because I wasn't Black. It's definitely humiliating because I've never offended anyone with my words before - just my face, I guess haha. But I understand the reasoning behind it and I try not to take it personally...

That is really appalling. As I was saying previously, I've heard that last minute demands on the day are a common thing and it must drive everyone crazy. You really don't need to add "haha" afterwards suggesting that you just laugh this stuff off. It really isn't a laughing matter, this is very serious. Only thing is, you'd be hard pushed to find anyone to take you seriously or take out any sort of legal action. But you absolutely should take it personally. This is your life's work that you're dedicated to and someone thought you wouldn't do a good job because of the colour of your skin. That's awful no matter how you try to spin it and you have every right to be annoyed.

10 minutes ago, PEZ said:

BTW: Reimagined was announced as "very special collection of songs from the album reimagined by prominent artists from the LGBTQIA+ community and allies" -- are the posters who are up in arms over what SZA did upset over that, too? Are you worried that that's exclusionary and discriminatory and heterophobic, to focus heavily on LGBTQIA+ artists?

Or did you understand that it was about LGBTQIA+ people celebrating an already-LGBTQIA+-focused work, and meant in a positive way, not a negative way? And that it would sound silly to claim straight folks are being shut out? And if you can understand that, why does a Black woman wanting another Black creative to photograph her image and representation and story as a Black woman suddenly seem scary to you?

It sounds like community celebrating and uplifting fellow community members to me, just swapping sexuality/gender ID for race as the community basis. Also there would be more people present at a shoot than just SZA and the photographer, I'm sure she's not refusing to work or be in contact with all white people ever, in the same way BTW: Reimagined also has some allies contributing.

I think people are snowballing this request into worst-possible-future scenarios much more nefarious than the current reality actually is.

I do think it's more than a bit strange that BTW was overwhelmingly marketed as an album for the gays when it has moved people of all backgrounds, myself included. I think limiting herself in such a way really held Gaga back until recently. When people get it into their heads that an artist is only for a certain group, it can make every other group drop support. You can stand up for certain groups without aligning yourself to the point where you're excluding all others. I perfectly understand why an album like Beyonce's The Gift only involves black artists as it's a love letter to Africa but personally, I've never really understood why BTW is seen as such an LGBT focused piece of work when there's no songs explicitly about being LGBT alone and are actually aimed at pretty much everyone. BTW, the song, especially, is about being proud of yourself whatever group you belong to and she even lists them. And they're for the most part songs about Gaga's relationships with men. It's all in the marketing to make you believe it's such an album all about LGBT acceptance.

No one is finding a black woman wanting these things "scary." You're putting words into people's mouths there. We merely find the request unnecessary. There is absolutely no reason why a white photographer wouldn't know how to make a black client look good or photograph them any better. And a photographer doesn't write the article going with the story, they just take the pictures. It's offensive to believe that someone can do their job better than someone else because of things not related to the job ability. You can fight for visibility and opportunity of black talent without actively dismissing whites. If you want people to respect you, you have to respect them. Consciously or not, this kind of action suggests that whites that they shouldn't be employed in certain careers, their work isn't good enough and they probably didn't earn their career in the first place because they only got it as they were white.

[popatemyshart 94]

46 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

We're not creating hypotheticals. SZA isn't providing the crucial piece of information about whether she asked for this upon the opportunity being presented to her or asking for a replacement on the actual day, when everyone's been hired and ready to go. Because it makes a huge difference depending on which one it is. Hence, we can only make assumptions based on what was provided. You are assuming in support of her as much as the rest are assuming against her. I really don't see why it's so racist to believe that it's wrong to make a magazine feel bad for not doing things exactly how you would like. I'd be just as disapproving if it was a white celebrity making any other sort of demand.

Lmao aren’t you that racist berry?

[popatemyshart 94]

20 minutes ago, GagaSine said:

White supremacist daily strikes again 

That’s what happens when there’s no real leadership 

[StrawberryBlond 15,020]

Just now, popatemyshart said:

Lmao aren’t you that racist berry?

That's a massive presumption for someone who has only been a member here for just 5 months. It just goes to show that I'm right when I say that untrue things about me spread far and wide, even new members who are just joining hear them. Suffice to say that people have been spreading lies about me being racist for years when I'm nothing of the sort. They tend to mistake me treating everyone the same for being racist. If you actually read what I say, you'd realise I'm nothing of the sort. To make that assumption when you've never spoken to me is really something. Do not believe everything you hear.

[GagaSine 7,464]

2 minutes ago, popatemyshart said:

Lmao aren’t you that racist berry?

U must be thinking of blueberry brunette 

[Bio 23,538]

3 minutes ago, popatemyshart said:

That’s what happens when there’s no real leadership 

I’m gonna stay quiet on this one ‘cause anti-racist people just disappear out of thin air 

[StrawberryBlond 15,020]

1 minute ago, GagaSine said:

U must be thinking of blueberry brunette 

You yourself said you'd blocked me and didn't want me quoting you. Yet you clearly still read my posts and make fun of me. You don't like me but seem to enjoy following me. I really don't understand this place sometimes.

By the way, why is my username so funny to people? I never make fun of anyone's else's usernames. You lot really need to grow up and stop ganging up on people merely for stating an opinion.

[RenegAde 19,961]

I understand why she would want to work with a black photographer , not everyone knows how to photograph a darker skin. same thing with make up and hair . plus it'll be a good way to create diversity . That being said,  this was not a solo project of hers, and I don't know why she thinks they would just give her that sort of control over the shoot . They hired you  sis

[GagaSine 7,464]

Just now, StrawberryBlond said:

You yourself said you'd blocked me and didn't want me quoting you. Yet you clearly still read my posts and make fun of me. You don't like me but seem to enjoy following me. I really don't understand this place sometimes.

By the way, why is my username so funny to people? I never make fun of anyone's else's usernames. You lot really need to grow up and stop ganging up on people merely for stating an opinion.

Girl it was a joke, I was not responding to you but the user that quoted you,  in fact my joke implies that the racist is not you. You're not a victim in every single situation. Also you comment everywhere and people quote you all the time so sadly I see your opinions anyway.