Rihanna vs. Jackie

Parlour Magazine reports on how the Dutch fashion magazine Jackie finds itself in hot water after using both the N-word and the B-word when referring to Rihanna. The editor-in-chief, Eva Hoeke, has apologized, saying that it was a bad joke and no racism was involved. I can buy her claim that there was no malice intended, but one of the issues with racism is that it’s not necessarily conscious. That is, the lack of intentional racism does not mean the absence of racism.

People seem less concerned with their use of the B-word, including Rihanna, who has taken to Twitter to say F#$@ YOU to Jackie.