Emily Ratajkowski Unimpressed With Your Little Black Square
By Rebecca Cukier on June 3, 2020 at 1:48 AM EDT
Emily Ratajkowski/Instagram
Emily Ratajkowski has publicly slammed #BlackoutTuesday. The 28-year-old supermodel and Inamorata founder was one of the first celebrities to criticize the blank, black square being used across Instagram and other platforms amid George Floyd's death and resulting riots and protests. EmRata – herself taking to L.A. streets to "defund the police" in the wake of 46-year-old Floyd's murder – took to Twitter yesterday to air her thoughts. Emily called #BlackoutTuesday "the worst kind of virtue-signaling." Scroll for the model's words.
Emily Ratajkowski/Instagram
Emily delivered multiple tweets.
"So easy to post a black square. I’m seeing people who haven’t posted in YEARS come on to post a black square. Your silence was embarrassing and now you can feel good about yourself while doing the bare minimum. This is the worst kind of virtual signaling."
Meanwhile, another read: "And it’s straight up dangerous. The mainstream media isn’t blacking out today, the MAGA dudes in my mentions aren’t blacking out today," with a third reading:"Clogging up the only reliable news source and communication channel ISNT HELPFUL."
Gettyimages | Raymond Hall
Emily did not participate in #BlackoutTuesday, although the model's Instagram – followed by 26.5 million – has been 100% dedicated to George Floyd and #BlackLivesMatter since she first posted a headshot of Floyd five days ago. Meanwhile, the rest of the celebrity world near-exclusively spent Tuesday posting that little black square. Stars participating included the likes of Rihanna, Kylie Jenner, Miley Cyrus, Jay-Z, Ellen DeGeneres, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez...– and the rest. Ratajkowski is not, however, alone in criticizing #Blackout Tuesday, with rapper Lil Nas X doing the same.
Emily Ratajkowski/Instagram
Scroll for the photos. EmRata and 2018-married husband Sebastian Bear McClard were spotted on the streets of Los Angeles on Tuesday – EmRata was seen from behind a black face mask as she protested peacefully. The "Blurred Lines" star wore skin-tight bike shorts and a dark green crop top, also going somewhat incognito as her face mask was accessorized with dark shades and a baseball cap. The star carried a sign reading: "DEFUND THE POLICE." Her stories ahead of the march had read: "Dismantle power structures of oppression."
Emily Ratajkowski/Instagram
It's been five days since EmRata posted a painting of Floyd, killed at the hands of white police. Her caption read:
"NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE. The system that protects and allows for the senseless murders of black people in this country needs to be dismantled. Call and demand the arrest of George Floyd’s murderers. Educate yourself on the history of racism, oppression and police brutality in our country. Find groups who are taking action and ask what you can do to help. George Floyd 1974-2020."
