Has Deepica reached out to you since the clip went viral?
Yeah, absolutely. She reached out the same day because she started getting mean-spirited comments. I felt for her because I knew her intentions were pure and I’m an advocate for everything that has to do with natural hair, black-related inclusion, and so I felt her sentiment and didn’t want it to turn that way. I offered a comment on one of the Today show Facebook posts and people backed down after that. It’s just an unfortunate situation.
What did she say, specifically?
She keeps apologizing, but I totally understand the pressure that she was under, and I’m grateful for the fact that she wanted to be inclusive, and because the natural-hair movement is such a large segment. She is also a woman of color. I think that in the beauty industry we’re both people who are trying to break boundaries, and I thought that it was great that she wanted to show diversity.
I commend her and applaud her for that, and that’s why I think people need to look at that angle as opposed to completely bashing her, because I feel like that closes the door for future opportunities. She will probably never work with a natural-hair model again, in regards to hair, and I think that that’s unfortunate, because that’s what we’re fighting against as both women of color.
She also wanted to know whether I was upset with her and I kept reassuring her that I’m not. We know what our intentions were. I would not have gone forward with it if I didn’t feel like she would be able to execute them. I don’t have any hard feelings toward her and I look forward to working with her again even if it’s a makeup segment, maybe not hair [laughs]. So she had a little laugh about it and I told her don’t beat yourself up too much, this is a learning lesson for the both of us.
What is your final thought about everything?
I think that Deepica is great at what she does and this is a conversation that we should all have because clearly, it touches everyone so deeply.
Stacie Hart says
Old news…
Lonnese M. Bodison says
This was not that serious people. She messed up, move on
Tina Waters says
It wasn’t serious it was ridiculous. She’s on national TV calling herself a beauty expert and doing hair demonstrations. Only to jack up all three women’s hair in three minutes. She’s obviously not a hair expert and probably shouldn’t have ever tried, especially in under a minute. The ridiculousness of it is what gets me.
I'man Haywood says
Ruth Charles Kierra Hall Jillian Cerezo Brittney Nicole man she needs a do over
Vivien Chizoba Anyanwu says
Hahaha.
Bridget Sizer says
Her career is done
Deb Belton says
Oh well, I wish them both luck!
Christal Pugh says
Penny Hampton, it still makes me laugh though. Evidently she never heard be careful who you let do your hair, hahaha….
Rossa Clarke-White says
The model should taken over & restyled hair on air!