On October 1 (local time), Jennie attended the Chanel fashion show in Paris as the brand’s official ambassador.
At the event, Jennie greeted several celebrities, including Margaret Qualley, and they even took photos together. However, a video of their encounter was shared on social media, igniting controversy. After a brief hug, Margaret Qualley touched Jennie’s hair and asked, “Is this your real hair?”
Then, when Jennie replied that it wasn’t, Qualley expressed her surprise, saying, “It looks real.”
Some netizens criticized Qualley’s behavior as racially insensitive. Not only was it impolite to touch someone’s hair without permission, but asking a person of color if their blonde hair is real was seen as a racially discriminatory remark.
Additionally, as Jennie posed for a picture with Qualley, it appeared that Qualley subtly pulled her face away from Jennie’s kiss-like gesture, which further fueled the controversy. Jennie seemed to laugh off the awkward moment.
Qualley is known for being affectionate with Hollywood stars, often exchanging cheek kisses and engaging in close physical contact, which made her behavior towards Jennie even more questionable.
Margaret Qualley has appeared in films such as “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, “Death Note”, and “My Salinger Year”, and she is also a muse for Chanel.
Meanwhile, global pop star Beyoncé faced a similar situation in November last year when she revealed her blonde hair. She received criticism, with people accusing her of trying to “become white” through skin lightening and blonde hair. Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles, responded on social media, condemning the remarks as ignorant and racist, pointing out that many talented Black celebrities have worn blonde hair without attempting to be white.
Source: Daum
