Ukraine has joined 20 other international countries in premiering their own version of the hit show “Lip Sync Battle.”
The show originated in the United States, where it has grown into a sensational musical competition. The format makes celebrities battle each other with lip sync performances, getting to choose what singer to impersonate and which song to perform with choreographed dancing.
In Ukraine, however, the show has become a setting for controversy after several participants wore blackface for performances.
Blackface originated in the U.S. after the Civil War as a form of theatrical makeup for white actors to portray black people. It was used to demean African Americans and further spread negative stereotypes about them.
The practice is considered to be highly offensive and racist in the West. Many celebrities and public figures in North America have gotten into major scandals because of wearing blackface in the past for occasions like parties, Halloween and various performances. The most famous of them was Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Since its original premiere in 2015, 21 international versions of “Lip Sync Battle” have been created, with Ukraine’s being the latest, premiering on March 6. The show aired the first season on Ukrainian television channel 1+1 finishing on April 18.
The local edition of “Lip Sync Battle” is hosted by Ukrainian producer and performer Oleksiy Potapenko, known as Potap, and singer Tina Karol.
“Lip Sync Battle” has had many famous Ukrainian celebrities on the show with a live audience cheering for them equipped with face shields complying with the coronavirus safety measures.
However, the show that is meant for all fun and entertainment, has allowed for several racist occasions to occur.
TV presenter Hryhoriy Reshetnik was on the show’s second episode, where he performed Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” dressed up in a sparkling black dress, curly black wig and blackface.
Ukrainian actress and comedian Olena Kravets was also on the show’s second episode, where she performed Tina Turner’s hit song “The Best” and also bronzed her skin to the point to match Turner’s skin color.
The Kyiv Post reached out to the Ukrainian “Lip Sync Battle” for comment, but has yet to hear back.
“The main task of the stars is to reproduce the song as convincingly as possible, copying the facial expressions, appearance, manner of staying on the stage of the original performer of the hit,” the 1+1 show’s description states on its website.
But it’s possible to recreate a singer’s looks without the derogatory blackface that occurred during the Ukrainian “Lip Sync Battle.”
Some of the most famous American “Lip Sync Battle” performances are Tom Holland’s dance performance of Rhianna’s “Umbrella” and Channing Tatum’s “Run the World” with Beyoncé even making a guest appearance at the end of his performance.
These two iconic examples show how Holland and Tatum respectfully recreate the songs with choreography, costumes and energy.
In Ukraine, the blackface performances caused no backlash.
Kravets’ video has hit over 100,000 views on YouTube with only 54 dislikes and full of supportive comments. Reshetnik’s Whitney Houston video has almost 70,000 views with mostly supportive comments.
The reason for that might be the general poor awareness of the history of blackface in Ukraine, says Rafael Stefanovych, 20, an African Ukrainian with Guinean roots.
Stefanovych says that those celebrities who wore blackface for performances might not realize why it’s offensive, yet it doesn’t relieve them of responsibility for their actions.
“Maybe they don’t take some things seriously, but they should,” Stefanovych told the Kyiv Post. “It’s absolutely inappropriate in the modern world. It’s absurd, especially on a show,” he says.
History of blackface
One of the reasons why some Ukrainians might not understand the full controversy of blackface is because they do not share the same deep-rooted history and relationship with racism as the U.S.
Blackface became popular in the U.S. after the 1861-1865 Civil War as white performers played characters that demeaned and dehumanized African Americans.
People minstreling would darken their skin with shoe polish or greasepaint and paint on enlarged lips and other exaggerated features, and portray African Americans being lazy, ignorant, hypersexual, criminal or cowardly.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) states that “minstrelsy, comedic performances of ‘blackness’ by whites in exaggerated costumes and makeup, cannot be separated fully from the racial derision and stereotyping at its core.”
Lifestyle editor Toma Istomina contributed to reporting.
