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Media
Dutch magazine editor quits over Rihanna racism row
By CMU Editorial | Published on Thursday 22 December 2011
The Editor-in-chief of Dutch magazine Jackie has resigned following accusations of racism after it published an article on how to dress your child like Rihanna, in which the singer was referred to as “the ultimate niggabitch”.
As previously reported, Editor-in-chief Eva Hoeke said in a statement published via Facebook and Twitter that the use of the term had been “meant as a joke”, claiming it was a slang term regularly used on TV and radio and not intended to cause offence.
Rihanna herself disagreed, saying via Twitter that the magazine was a “poor representation of the evolution of human rights”, accusing it of putting “two words together, with the intent of abasement, that made no sense”.
In a new statement yesterday, announcing her decision to step down from her position at Jackie, Joeke said: “I realise that my first reaction through Twitter, in which I indicated that it was a joke, has been an incomplete description of what I, and also the author of the article, meant. The term ‘niggabitch’ came from America and we solely used it to describe a style of dress … [the article] had no racial motive as its basis. Through the course of events, the publisher and I have concluded that because my credibility is now affected, it is better for all parties if I quit my function as Editor-in-chief effective immediately”.
Jackie Magazine is now expected to invite Rihanna to share her feelings and thoughts on the article in a future edition.
