Friday 15 November, 2024

Salon got itself into hot water for calling Nicki Minaj's VMA speech 'savage'

The news website has apologised for the language used.

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NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT website Salon has apologised after referring to a VMA acceptance speech by Nicki Minaj as ‘savage’.

The site tweeted a version of its story about Minaj’s comments towards Miley Cyrus referring to “Nicki Minaj’s savage, expletive-laden rant” before deleting that tweet and deciding instead to go with “Nicki Minaj’s raw, righteous rebuke”.

salon @capetownbrown @capetownbrown

Of course, it didn’t go unnoticed.

. @Salon deleted that Tweet calling Nicki's reaction to Miley "savage" but guys...the internet's FOREVER! #Salon pic.twitter.com/L66sPFPbwI
— Foncé Noir Black😷 💉 (@ChocnessMonsta) August 31, 2015

SNIPES! / Twitter

Did Salon really call Nicki "savage"? Anyone screenshot that?
— Tina Vasquez (@TheTinaVasquez) August 31, 2015

Tina Vasquez / Twitter

The double standard between the coverage of Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj was noticed

And Nicki's "expletive laden rant" has the same number of curse words as Miley's response. One. @Nettaaaaaaaa @Salon pic.twitter.com/Z6V9aO4LHv
— Jesse Benn (@JesseBenn) August 31, 2015

Jesse Benn / Twitter

@Salon Savage? So Nicki Minaj's righteous response to Miley's overstepping is savage? Miley cussed the WHOLE SHOW & she's not savage.
— Pro liberation and healing (@EvaVegaWorld) August 31, 2015

Justice Advocate / Twitter

The tone of the alternative tweet was noticed

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The implication of the language involved was noticed

While some pointed out that Salon was referring to Minaj’s words rather than Minaj herself when using the word ‘savage’, the ill-advised choice of language was at the centre of the issue.

YO @Salon there's a long tradition of white people calling us caribs "savage". wanna go there? @capetownbrown pic.twitter.com/TQAm6nGzDs
— Liza Sabater 🇵🇷👸🏾🌹 (@blogdiva) August 31, 2015

liza sabater / Twitter

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And once again Salon shows its arse when it comes to discussing black people in public. "Savage": who though that was a good idea?
— Katherine Cross (@Quinnae_Moon) August 31, 2015

Katherine Cross / Twitter

Salon tweeted this apology less than an hour after the initial controversial tweet was sent.

Earlier today we used a poor choice of words in describing Nicki Minaj's VMA acceptance speech. We apologize to Ms. Minaj and our readers
— Salon (@Salon) August 31, 2015

Salon.com / Twitter

Minaj has not responded publicly to the incident, but there are calls for Salon to address her explicitly with an apology.

.@Salon, her Twitter handle is @NICKIMINAJ. https://t.co/yI0mjn64WK
— deray (@deray) August 31, 2015

deray mckesson / Twitter

11 of the many, many questions we have about the VMAs>

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Emer McLysaght

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Defamation

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Racism or Hate speech

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Trolling or Off-topic

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Inappropriate language

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