Why
If you live anywhere other than under a rock, you’ve probably heard of The Shade Room. Whether it be their consistent posts and multiple accounts, or their gigantic cult following of almost 30 million on Instagram and massive nationwide influence, they’re seemingly everywhere on social media.
Do I genuinely think everyone involved with The Shade Room is going to hell? Of course not (absolutely)! But I do think their influence on the Black community is deplorable. They are supposedly a media “news outlet” posting new information about influencers, artists, rappers, and celebrities. Seemingly harmless until you realize a pattern within the posts. With every post comes a slew of anti-Black, stereotyping comments, whether it be mentioning the “bitter babymama” trope or downright blatant racism. Every single post seems to invoke some form of ignorance against Black people.
The Shade Room has been so notorious for its messy posts and comments that even students create “shade rooms” and tea pages for their grade levels or schools. Starting hashtags such as “#TSRCutTheFoolery” and “TSRReactionz”, they create spaces for people to not only learn information about the celebrities, but to degrade and insult them as well.
What makes The Shade Room different from other news outlets? The accessibility and freedom of comments, regardless the nature. You mean to tell me y’all have over 140k posts and the only positive ones are the happy birthdays? Every full body picture of a Black woman causes a discourse over what she wears, how she should spend her money or why she’s shaped the way she is. Every Black couple post is riddled with undertones of colorism, speculations and so many “I see why he cheated.”
The Shade Room strengthens the division amongst the Black community unapologetically. Some may ask, “How are the comments their fault, they just post?” Baby when you enable the abuse, you are still the problem. They watch the comments and arguments ensue with every post and have yet to do anything to protect the very people they exploit. Even celebrities have started to speak out against the negativity The Shade Room warrants (shouting out NBA Youngboy).
Regardless of their status, celebrities are still human. Their influence doesn’t negate their humanity or make them resistant to harassment and bullying dressed as a “media page."
Regardless of their status, celebrities are still human. Their influence doesn’t negate their humanity or make them resistant to harassment and bullying dressed as a “media page."
