- Title: Stars, industry react to 'Blackout Tuesday' online
- Date: 2nd June 2020
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - SEPTEMBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF MODEL AND REALITY TV STAR, KYLIE JENNER POSING FOR PICTURES AT ICONS PARTY NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - MAY 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF JENNER POSING FOR PICTURES AT MET BALL WITH FORMER PARTNER, TRAVIS SCOTT
- Embargoed: 16th June 2020 16:35
- Keywords: Apple Music Black out Tuesday Britney Spears Bryan Cranston Columbia Records Drake Instagram Jimi Hendrix Katy Perry Kenidra Woods Kylie Jenner Olivia Wilde Paul Mescal Rihanna Wizkid
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: Various
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Music
- Reuters ID: LVA008CGOHNBH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: WRITTEN PROFANITY IN SHOT 3
Social media turned the colour black on Tuesday (June 2), as the music industry and stars including Rihanna, Drake, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kylie Jenner and others showed their support for "Blackout Tuesday".
Instagram users were met with a sea of black images after searching for #BlackoutTuesday or #TheShowMustBePaused.
Leading record labels such as Apple Music, Columbia Records, Universal Music and others pledged to suspend business and work with communities to fight racial inequality after protests erupted in the United States following the death of a black man, George Floyd, in police custody last week.
"On Tuesday, June 2nd, Apple Music will observe Black Out Tuesday," a tweet on Apple Music read. "We will use this day to reflect and plan actions to support Black artists, Black creators, and Black communities. #TheShowMustBePaused #BlackLivesMatter".
Fenty fashion line owner and singer Rihanna said in a post on Instragram:
"We ain't buying shit!!! and we ain't selling shit neither!! gang gang! #BLACKOUTTUESDAY AF!!! @fenty @fentybeauty @savagexfenty"
Rapper Drake simply commented "Side by side" next to a black image on Instagram.
Heavily pregnant singer Katy Perry's post said she wondered how to use her "privilege and platform" now, saying she had donated to certain organisations she had tagged in her Instagram post:
"I hope that #BlackoutTuesday gives us all (especially in the music industry) an opportunity to take what we're learning and put it into action on Wednesday, and every day going forward."
Pop star Britney Spears told followers on Monday that the world needed to "listen, learn, do better" now, take time away from their electronic devices to reflect, and not post anything on Tuesday like she planned not to.
However, some celebrities like "Booksmart" director Olivia Wilde who showed their support online on Tuesday by using just the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag with their black image were reminded not to by followers.
"If you are participating in this, don't use the tag #BlackLivesMatter," said actor Kumail Nanjiani of new Netflix series "The Lovebirds" on his Twitter account to his followers.
"It's pushing down important and relevant content. Use #BlackOutTuesday."
"Please don't use the hashtag black lives matter as it censoring people from accessing information," added actor Paul Mescal, star of hit Irish drama television series "Normal People" in a tweet.
Some members of the public were quick to respond and support the idea of Blackout Tuesday, but also voiced concern over how it would affect their music streaming services.
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