MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – “How dark! No! How ugly!” a Mexican social media star exclaimed after accidentally using a filter that darkened her face during a live broadcast on Instagram, reigniting the country’s longstanding debate about racism.
The remarks by Barbara de Regil, a popular actress in movies and soap operas, came as Mexicans are engaging in their own conversations about racism after the death in the United States of George Floyd, an African American, under the knee of a white police officer.
In Mexico, the debate has centered on discrimination against indigenous groups, who have long suffered from poverty, isolation and a lack of representation in politics and popular culture.
With many Mexicans still confined to their homes by the coronavirus pandemic, the discussion has played out largely online.
Amid the backlash to de Regil’s remarks, some fans rushed to her defense, saying she had made an innocent mistake. Others called for people to stop following her on social media.
“We will not tolerate more racism. Neither in Mexico nor the world,” one user wrote on Twitter, proclaiming that the actress was “CANCELLED.”
The video is no longer available on de Regil’s Instagram page. Neither de Regil or Instagram responded to a request for comment.
The success of Yalitza Aparicio, the indigenous Mexican star of the Oscar-winning 2018 film Roma, has helped bring conversations about race and ethnicity to the fore. She stands in stark contrast to the pale women and men with European features who dominate Mexican television and film, though they represent only a sliver of the country’s overwhelmingly mestizo and indigenous population.
The actress, who was disparaged by a telenovela actor using crude and racially-charged language even as she was being feted during last year’s award season, has spoken out in recent days about the importance of amplifying indigenous voices.
“Our voice is less heard because of our skin color,” she said Thursday in a virtual event organized by the magazine GQ.
Source: Reuters
Comments
more recommended stories
Woman climber dies while off-limits at Popocatepetl volcanoA woman mountain climber in Mexico.
Seven bodies found in Chikindzonot could be the persons reported missing near ChetumalSeven bodies were found in a.
2 systems threaten the Yucatan Peninsula: 1 in the Gulf, 1 in the AtlanticThe National Hurricane Center has its.
Yucatecan Educational community stands out at the national level with socially responsible projectsStudents and teachers from Yucatan stand.
Yucatan within the seven fastest-growing state economies in MexicoThe INEGI indicated that the manufacturing.
The growth of the manufacturing industry continues in YucatanResult of the joint work between.
Banxico accelerates the pace of its interest rateMexico’s central bank accelerated the pace.
Peninsular Electric Expo is inaugurated by Governor Vila Dosal at Merida’s Siglo XXIDuring the first edition of the.
President Joe Biden condemns Supreme Court abortion rulingWASHINGTON DC — In sharp and.
Grupo Xcaret’s Xibalbá Park in Valladolid is still in stand by due to environmental reasonsThe controversy surrounding the construction of.
She thinks she’s all that when she is ignorant? I don’t even think these arab descents are aware that there are thousands like her where her ancestors are from. I see these women all over Mexico. They are arrogant and gets that confidence from their looks and clothes.