Will.I.Am Goes Blackface For VMAs (Video)

Back in black? When Black Eyed Peas bandleader Will.i.am joined Nicki Minaj during the VMA pre-show Sunday, outraged fans slammed the 35-year-old rapper's for appearing in blackface. "Will.i.am. wearing blackface!? What a racist!" fakeart123 tweeted. Adds TSCMoncton, "Anyone notice that Will.i.am painted himself in blackface? I sure hope there's some kind of meaning behind a stunt like that." Blackface -- which first gained popularity during the 19th century -- typically promotes racist stereotypes toward African Americans. In addition to his face paint, Will.i.am wore head-to-toe black (including a shiny hair piece in the shape of a side-mohawk). (Us Magazine)

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