TikTok sensation faces backlash for controversial sponsored video promoting The Color Purple
TikTok star faces backlash for tone-deaf sponsored video promoting The Color Purple, drawing criticism for being out of touch
The Color Purple, a musical coming-of-age period drama set in the early 1900s South and following the life of an African American woman, has sparked controversy after a TikTok star created a promotional video that was criticized as "tone-deaf" and "out of touch."
The film, based on the 1982 book with the same title, delves into the protagonist's challenges with sensitive issues such as sexual assault, race and racism, sexism, gender roles, spirituality, and violence.
Warner Bros. Pictures is slated to release this new adaptation in the US on December 25, 2023. However, the marketing decisions made by the production company have sparked controversy, particularly after a sponsored video for the film created by a TikTok star was deemed "tone-deaf".
Mirta Miler, known as 'mimiermakeup', faced criticism for her promotion of the film by dyeing a wig purple and creating an outfit based on the color, while calling the story "heartwarming", which surprised viewers.
TikTok user 'theeofficialjuju' responded to Miler's video in a stitch, questioning which movie she watched and called out Warner Bros. Pictures for not partnering with a black creator, considering the film's subject matter and mainly black cast.
“I've noticed that many 'influencers' are promoting the movie, but all of the videos seem to focus on the color rather than the actual story," one person remarked. A third individual commented, "She didn't properly research and disrespected the true essence of the movie."
Miler has since taken down the sponsored video and issued an apology, stating, "I am not making this video to justify my foolishness or unprofessionalism. I am making this video to take responsibility... as a content creator, I clearly did not fulfill my duty, which is to educate myself about the content I post - especially sponsored content."
Miler emphasized that there was no excuse for ignorance, stating, "The only right thing to do is to be truly embarrassed and take responsibility for my ignorance. I apologize directly to the black community for my insensitivity." She also assured that she would not accept compensation from Warner Bros. for the removed TikTok. The video received a positive response from users, with many expressing that her apology seemed genuine and commendable. One individual commented, "I'm glad she took it down. She acknowledged her mistake and made it right. That's more than what most 'influencers' do."
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Editor's P/S
As a passionate fan of "The Color Purple," I was deeply disappointed and frustrated by the tone-deaf promotional video created by TikTok star Mirta Miler. The film is a powerful and moving portrayal of the struggles faced by African American women in the early 1900s, and it deserves to be promoted in a respectful and sensitive manner. Miler's video, which focused on the color purple rather than the actual story, completely missed the mark and showed a lack of understanding of the film's significance.
I applaud TikTok user 'theeofficialjuju' for calling out Miler and Warner Bros. Pictures for their insensitivity. It is crucial that films like "The Color Purple" are promoted by creators who can appreciate and understand the depth and importance of the story. I hope that Warner Bros. Pictures will take this opportunity to learn from their mistake and ensure that future promotional efforts are handled with greater care and respect.
