WikiHow Apologizes for Illustrating Obama, Beyoncé, and Jay Z as White People
Illustrated how-to site wikiHow says it’s “disgusted and ashamed” after posting a picture based on Obama, Beyoncé, and Jay Z in which all three had white skin. The image, which appeared in an article on “how to become a congressman,” was screenshotted by a Beyoncé fan account and circulated on social media before wikiHow tweeted an apology yesterday. After removing the story, wikiHow claimed the illustrator who colored the image hadn’t realized it was based on Obama, Bey, and Jay. “This doesn’t excuse the fact that we hosted a terrible image on wikiHow and we needed more diversity on that article period,” the site wrote. Read the apology below.
Wikihow turned Obama, Beyoncé, and Jay Z white to explain “How to become a congressman.” pic.twitter.com/QNTGz5wjaq
— FORMATION (@beyupdates_) January 22, 2017
1/ When we saw the whitewashed image of Obama, Jay Z & Beyoncé, we were disgusted & ashamed. It never should have been on wikiHow. https://t.co/tCIgpPpD2R
— wikiHow (@wikiHow) January 24, 2017
@wikiHow 2/ Within minutes of the 1st tweet, a volunteer removed the image. We then started investigating how it got on wikiHow at all.
— wikiHow (@wikiHow) January 24, 2017
@wikiHow 3/ We learned it was made 3 years ago by a team of illustrators who work as one. One person sketches, the other person colors.
— wikiHow (@wikiHow) January 24, 2017
@wikiHow 4/ The sketcher sent the colorist a black and white sketch. The colorist did not know the race of the models.
— wikiHow (@wikiHow) January 24, 2017
@wikiHow 5/ The colorist wasn’t aware it was Obama and Beyoncé. We don’t think the illustrator intentionally whitewashed here.
— wikiHow (@wikiHow) January 24, 2017
@wikiHow 6/ This doesn’t excuse the fact that we hosted a terrible image on wikiHow and we needed more diversity on that article period.
— wikiHow (@wikiHow) January 24, 2017
@wikiHow 7/ We’re talking with our illustrators to prevent recurrence and encourage diversity. Especially in positions of power.
— wikiHow (@wikiHow) January 24, 2017
Recent Comments