A BBC article that claimed a trend for bare nails was linked to "white supremacist standards of beauty" has been permanently removed from its website after it failed to meet the corporation's editorial standards. The article, which first appeared on September 27, discussed a viral craze for bare nails that has been gaining traction on social media and fashion catwalks.
Background of the Article
The piece examined criticisms of the bare nails trend, suggesting it could stigmatize bold manicures. It acknowledged that nail art has roots in black, Latino, and Asian communities. In an early section, beauty journalist Kristina Rodulfo stated:
“"That trend really promotes blankness and this kind of sameness and erasure of culture and identity that is so important to black and brown communities. They are often called elegant or tasteful and these are often usually euphemisms that perpetuate white supremacist standards of beauty."
Later, Rodulfo added:
“"The examples are almost always white women or celebrities … [and] they’ll often conflate class and taste with that bareness."
Removal and Reactions
The BBC initially removed the article on Tuesday after it faced backlash from media outlets in the US, particularly from the political right. The corporation stated it was removed "pending an editorial review." However, it was later confirmed that the article had been permanently taken down. Editors concluded that there was no challenge to the quotes linking bare nails to white supremacy, nor was there context to suggest that such opinions were extreme.
