Vybz Kartel Gives Reason He Bleached His Skin, Regrets It: "Never Again"
- Jamaican musician Vybz Kartel vowed never to bleach his skin again after his past controversial choice
- The dancehall star reflected on self-love and Eurocentric beauty standards during an interview with Hot 97
- Kartel, who previously endorsed a skin-lightening brand, now embraces a fully melanated lifestyle
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Dancehall legend Vybz Kartel has made it clear that his days of skin bleaching are behind him for good.
Source: Facebook
In his first major US radio interview since being released from prison in July 2024 after serving thirteen years, the Jamaican superstar sat down with Hot 97 on Wednesday, April 9, for an in-depth conversation that touched on music, freedom, self-reflection, and identity.
Why did Vybz Kartel bleach his skin?
One of the more revealing moments came around the 9:45-minute mark of the interview when Vybz addressed his controversial history with skin bleaching, something he once openly embraced and even commercialised through his skin lightening brand.
But now, he says that chapter is closed for good.
“I mean, in hindsight, it definitely had to do with self-love,” Kartel admitted.
“But on the other hand, while I was doing it, my mind wasn’t telling me that. My mind was telling me, ‘I am doing this to show my tattoos.’ I’ve got a lot of tattoos.”
Despite initially justifying the practice as a way to make his body art stand out more vividly, Kartel acknowledged that beneath that explanation lay deeper insecurities that many Black individuals contend with, particularly those shaped by a legacy of Eurocentric beauty standards.
“But looking back,” he continued, “it was just… as a Black man, sometimes we have those issues. But I would never bleach again though. Never.”
When prodded further about what he meant by "those issues," Kartel didn't shy away from tackling the elephant in the room: Eurocentrism and the lasting impact of colonialism on Black identity.
“That Eurocentric look… Black people have always wanted to look like that. I guess it has to do with slavery,” he said, highlighting how centuries of imposed ideals continue to influence how some Black people perceive their natural features.
Kartel's comments mark a significant shift from his earlier stance.
In now-deleted 2022 Instagram posts, the dancehall icon had defended his skin bleaching, going as far as calling out what he perceived as hypocrisy within the Black community, according to HotNewHipHop.
“99.99% of Black women (1) cream their hair or (2) wear 'Caucasian' wigs,” he wrote in one of his rants, attempting to justify his decision at the time.
Known for pushing boundaries—both musically and culturally—Kartel's image has long been polarising.
His embrace of skin bleaching in the late 2000s sparked intense debate across the Caribbean and beyond. He often cited aesthetic reasons for his decision, but critics argued it perpetuated harmful narratives about Black beauty.
Source: Getty Images
Will Vybz Kartel visit Kenya?
As previously reported, Kartel confirmed he’ll be performing in Kenya in 2025, sparking excitement among fans.
His response to a curious Kenyan fan lit up social media, though the exact date and venue are still under wraps.
Kenyans are now eagerly counting down to the big reveal.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
