'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alum Raven Addresses Blackface & Blackfishing Allegations: 'I Will Not Stop Tanning'

justjared.com:

Raven is hitting back at critics of her appearance. The 45-year-old RuPaul’s Drag Race alum, who became RuPaul‘s Emmy award-winning makeup artist since Season 9 of the series, spoke out about the accusations on fellow Drag Race alum Monet X Change‘s Monet Talks.

During the appearance, Raven, who is white, addressed criticism she’s received over the years for her dark-skinned appearance with the use of tanning and makeup application.

Some have called it blackface or blackfishing, especially in certain photos. Keep reading to find out more… “When that whole thing first started happening, I was like um…uh oh.

And then I thought ‘ooh.’ I remember talking to a couple friends about it, and they were like ‘that’s not what you’re doing.’ I said ‘I know that.’ And they said ‘well, f-ck them, who cares?’ And I said ‘But I don’t want to offend anyone.’ And they were like ‘you’re not doing…that’s not what you’re doing.’ And I said ‘Okay,’” she explained. “I understand what blackface is.