UPDATE, March 4, 4:50pmET, Televisa has responded to the social media reaction, as the Associated Press reported:
In an email to The Associated Press, Televisa spokesman Alejandro Olmos said the network strongly condemns any form of racism or discrimination. “We do not believe that the production of ‘La Parodia’ engages in this type of practice,” Olmos said in Spanish.
But Olmos said some of the comments were made in “bad taste” and will be edited from the show.
ORIGINAL STORY
So the fabulous @miblogestublog posted the following tweets earlier on Sunday, showing Yessica Rosales of Televisa’s La Parodia (parody show, for those asking) dressed in brownface as Mexican indigenous actress Yalitza Aparicio, accepting a parody Oscar with a parody Alfonso Cuarón:
Televisa actress Yeka Rosales goes brownface to parody Yalitza Aparicio because… Televisa https://t.co/6hfgBfnOJk pic.twitter.com/oEzu7dXqQg
— Laura Martínez (@miblogestublog) March 3, 2019
This is what she actually looks like pic.twitter.com/74Il43FgvK
— Laura Martínez (@miblogestublog) March 3, 2019
Televisa is no stranger to racism, classism, blackface, etc. This is from 2009. I’m exhausted! https://t.co/doLCzkFT3E
— Laura Martínez (@miblogestublog) March 3, 2019
God damn pic.twitter.com/KRgSVhTLqi
— Laura Martínez (@miblogestublog) March 3, 2019
Apparently, Rosales’ Yalitza brownface is a thing and is actively being promoted by La Parodia:
No ganó el Oscar, pero su fama la hizo estar en la nueva temporada de #LaParodia pic.twitter.com/96Ea4o98bE
— La Parodia (@LaParodiaOf) March 2, 2019
And Rosales’ Instagram has other examples of her Yalitzia brownface character:
View this post on Instagram
This is the part where we remind you that this type of attitude by Mexican television is normal AF in Mexico (sad), since Rosales’ Twitter is actually RTing tweets from people who are defending her brownface character:
In México, the brown collored skin is a sign of proud, not a shame.
— Vaquero Galáctico ? (@iCharaco) March 3, 2019
In addition, Rosales is tweeting her defense with memes on her Twitter, saying that her parody knows no colors (yes, seriously):
— Yessica Rosales (@YekaRosales) March 4, 2019
She also tweeted that well, other people have down brownface and blackface in the past, so what’s the big deal?
— Yessica Rosales (@YekaRosales) March 4, 2019
But most other people know the problem here:
People defending her actions is something else. The worst is @YekaRosales retweeting reactions to her ‘brownface’ parody that the rest of us need to understand this is just a parody/joke. Wouldn’t it be wiser to apologize & pull the skit? @latinorebels https://t.co/fg49bH6cvO
— Jen Lubrani Cisneros (@meningioma) March 3, 2019
The mere fact that Televisa in the 21st century doesn’t have any indigenous on air talent says it all.
— Deldelp Medina (@deldelp) March 3, 2019
This absolutely abhorrent. The level of racism within our community is long overdue for a calling out. Thanks for keeping this issue elevated!
— Alicia Lewis (@sosaysalicia) March 3, 2019
Stomp out Mex on Mex racism ! ?
— Andres_Rubal (@andres_rubal) March 3, 2019
Listen up: brownface and blackface are serious issues in Latin American media. For this who will tell us that this is just a “joke” and that people should “relax,” see what happens when people in Latin American actually speak out. And don’t get us started on the fact that the Televisa culture permeates even here in the United States. Who remembers when a former Univision host compared Michelle Obama to Planet of the Apes? Or what about Telemundo’s racism during last year’s World Cup?
AND, we will remind you all that the Oscar-nominated Aparicio has been the subject of racism and more racism over the past few weeks.
When does this all stop?
When more and more people start speaking out, no matter where they live.
So sad that CEO’s are not keeping tab’s on code of business and dress conduct.
?
Disgusting.
Is sad to know Mexicans are so normalized with the imposing of white superiority that some dont even understand why this bad and even think is funny to make fun of someone appearance.
Because…she’s an idiot working with morons! Por favor! Que imbecibilidad a estas alturas!
Well, Mexico is just waking to its own racism. It is not a common topic of discussion, and it will take time. However, pointing to it is a good start.
The prejudice and marginalization of Mexico’s indigenous population has been going on since 1519, with the arrival of Cortes in Veracruz. Light skin is preferred in that country. Televisa’s telenovelas only feature light skin actors in their programs, the indigenous looking characters are usually the antagonists or the help. Hopefully AMLO will bring back that pride of their indigenous origins.
Every country is racist against one group or another. Mexico is no different. Just watch their television shows and you will see what the country want to promote. Mexico is a classist, elitist country and I am not surprise at this person that decided mocking someones looks as a good idea.
[…] Entry 1: “So the fabulous @miblogestublog posted the following tweets earlier on Sunday, showing Yessica Rosales of Televisa’s La Parodia (parody show, for those asking) dressed in brownface as Mexican indigenous actress Yalitza Aparicio, accepting a parody Oscar with a parody Alfonso Cuarón.” […]
[…] last week for seven days, the video genre that never seems to end got close to 47% of the vote. The Yalitza Aparicio haters got 27%, with Tom Brokaw getting around 20% and Martin Hyde at close to […]
Leave it to the spix to get offended about something this unimportant on a website where they call themselves “rebels.” To me it seems like you just see that indigenous peoples are unequivocally physically unattractive and you don’t like to see it when it’s presented to you. This “racist” is far more attractive than any indian could ever dream to be.