Twitter Calls for Bravo Boycott After Host Calls 'Hunger Games' Actress a "Jackhole" Over Kylie Jenner Cornrow Remarks

The Bravo host is getting roasted on Twitter for his insulting comments.

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Image via Complex Original
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Damn, the controversy over Kylie Jenner's braids just keeps getting bigger. After Andy Cohen, host of Bravo's late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live, called Amandla Sternberg a "jackhole" for criticizing Kylie Jenner's controversial cornrow selfie, twitter exploded with cries to #BoycottBravo in Sternberg's defense.

But let's go back to the start of the problem. For those unfamiliar, the youngest member of the Kardashian-Jenner family threw up a selfie on Instagram last Saturday. While that's par for the course for any Kardashian or Jenner, the picture drew some unintended heat when commenters attacked Kylie for wearing her hair in cornrow braids, claiming it was cultural appropriation.

 

 

While the move was questionable at best, things really turned up once the hashtag "#whitegirlsdoitbetter" appeared in the comments (via a random commentor), sparking a new level of debate. Noticing the hashtag, Hunger Games actress, Amandla Stenberg threw shade on whole spectacle, condemning Kylie for using failing to "use [her] position of power to help black Americans by directing attention towards [her] wigs instead of police brutality or racism."

 

 

While Sterberg's response seemed to voice the feelings of many, Jenner did receive some support for her braids—including one Justin Bieber. Defending Jenner's image, Bieber asked people to leave Kylie alone, noting that much of the controversy happens because (like himself) she's "under a microscope."

 


 

It seemed like the dust had settled over the controversial selfie, until Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen called out Sternberg's complaints over Kylie's Instagram. The talk show, which airs on Bravo, targeted the Amandla Sternberg complains in his regular "Jackhole of the Day" segment. Guests at the time, actress Laverne Cox and  Vogue Editor-at-large André Leon Talley, were surprisingly on board with Cohen's comments.

Cohen: "Today’s Jackhole goes to the Instagram feud between Kylie Jenner and Hunger Games star/Jaden Smith’s prom date Amandla Stenberg who criticized Kylie for her cornrows, calling it cultural appropriation. White girls in cornrows … is it OK or nay, Laverne and Andre?”

While people were upset with Cohen including Sternberg's complaints as worthy of the "Jackhole of the Day," the fact that Cox and Talley, both obviously individuals of color, didn't stand with Sternberg truly set twitter ablaze. The backlash was so strong, that the hashtag #BoycottBravo (Watch What Happens Live's network) started trending on Twitter.

 

Hey Andy Cohen, how dare you attack a smart young black women for speaking her truth. You are the real "jackhole of the day." #BoycottBravo

 

Apology not enough; @Andy + @Bravotv must commit to no longer profit from violent, stereotypical images of Black women #boycottbravo

 

I don't expect much from Andre Leon Talley or Andy Cohen, but I expected more from Laverne Cox. http://t.co/ARLlArGXWs #BoycottBravo

 

Naturally, with more controversy swirling, this time around the WWHL remarks, Cohen and Cox have both apologized via social media.

 

I want to apologize to Amandla. I didn't understand the larger context of this cultural discussion and TRULY (cont) http://t.co/zRSOm2rxtN

 

Please check out my thoughts on #CulturalAppropriation post my appearance on #WWHL on Sunday http://t.co/5UQilmGCkF @amandlastenberg

 

While Cohen has backpedaled on his joking attitude towards the controversy, it's come across as yet another example of insensitivity towards cultural shaming and appropriation. Need we remind anyone of Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic's insulting remarks about Zendaya Coleman's hair at the 2015 Oscars?

If there's a silver lining to any of this, it's that Amandla Sternberg has emerged as yet another voice calling for an end to racial divisive narratives. For that, we have nothing but respect.

 

End the "angry black girl" narrative. It's just another attempt to undermine certain perspectives. I have strong opinions. I am not angry.

 

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