B&TB&TB&T
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Search
Trending topics:
  • Cairns Crocodiles
  • Nine
  • Seven
  • Pinterest
  • Federal Election
  • AFL
  • NRL
  • Anthony Albanese
  • WPP
  • Thinkerbell
  • State of Origin
  • AI
  • Channel 10
  • EssenceMediaCom
  • B&T Women in Media
  • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Meta
  • TV Ratings
  • Radio Ratings
  • Sports Marketing

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
Reading: Snapchat Called Out For ‘Digital Blackface’ Of Bob Marley On 4/20 Day
Share
B&TB&T
Subscribe
Search
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
B&T > Technology > Snapchat Called Out For ‘Digital Blackface’ Of Bob Marley On 4/20 Day
Technology

Snapchat Called Out For ‘Digital Blackface’ Of Bob Marley On 4/20 Day

Erin M Doyle
Published on: 21st April 2016 at 10:00 AM
Erin M Doyle
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

To celebrate National Weed Day (April 20th) Snapchat launched a Bob Marley filter which superimpose the skin colour and facial features of the Jamaican artist on the Snapchat users-with added Rastafarian hat and dreadlocks. The filter has been accused of blackface, as well reducing the Jamaican artist to just a guy who smoked weed.

National Weed Day is celebrated on April 20th (or 4/20) which is the biggest single-day celebration of marijuana. Vox has tried to explain why it’s held on April 20th, because there are several theories.

Snapchat jumped on the bandwagon by launching a Marley filter which has been accused of blackface- which recalls a practice in the early 19th century where people performed racist caricatures of black people using greasepaint.

People are angry about the Snapchat filter not just because it’s racist — they’re also accusing Snapchat of reducing Marley to simply a weed icon, when in reality he was much more.

Twitter:

Snapchat’s Bob Marley filter looks even more racist on a picture Bob Marley pic.twitter.com/1nSw41rZY3

— Jason Lederman (@JasonOnTheAir) April 20, 2016

Can @Snapchat explain to me why there’s a Bob Marley filter on 4/20? You realize he did more than smoke weed, right? pic.twitter.com/xPCOU5uQko

— Jack Qu’emi (@jackquemi) April 20, 2016

Snapchat has made a “Bob Marley” filter for 4/20? Lol don’t reduce the brother’s legacy to nothing more than a weed mascot for white hippies

— Jordan Rose (@ZER0DayVirus) April 20, 2016

This Bob Marley snapchat filter today makes me uncomfortable

— B (@TweetsByBilal) April 20, 2016

Did @Snapchat REALLY think it would be a good idea to introduce a black face Bob Marley filter?

— Dean (@deanvictorr) April 20, 2016

my issue with the bob marley filter is not even that its black face but rather they’re summing up his life to just 4/20

— ALMTY BAM (@MrVicBam) April 20, 2016

Somehow snapchat always figures out a way to out snapchat itself. Can’t they hire ONE adult who’s like no, nope no blackface this morning no

— Nellie Bowles (@NellieBowles) April 20, 2016

All the things Bob Marley did, stood/fought for, & accomplished, & he’s reduced to just a weed symbol for stoners. Amazing.

— Lé Cocoapuff (@RespectTheAfro_) April 20, 2016

but of course Kylie Jenner used that terrible Bob Marley Snapchat filter pic.twitter.com/3Ieoz48ust

— Elena Cresci (@elenacresci) April 20, 2016

In an email to Fortune, Snapchat defended the decision saying: “The lens we launched today was created in partnership with the Bob Marley Estate, and gives people a new way to share their appreciation for Bob Marley and his music. Millions of Snapchatters have enjoyed Bob Marley’s music, and we respect his life and achievements.”

Join more than 30,000 advertising industry experts
Get all the latest advertising and media news direct to your inbox from B&T.

No related posts.

TAGGED: Birkenhead Point, einsights, Meat & Livestock Australia
Share
Erin M Doyle
By Erin M Doyle
Follow:
Erin Doyle is an experienced digital marketing specialist and comms expert.

Latest News

Relo & VideoAmp Kick Off A New Era Of Sports Measurement With Total Sports Performance
19/06/2025
Landor To Rebrand Australian War Memorial & Australian Agricultural Company In New Business Spree
19/06/2025
TV Ratings (18/06/2025): QLD Keep The Series Alive With Gutsy Two Point Victory
19/06/2025
VML Pours Out Silver With Legacy Lager As Aussies Claim Three More Cannes Lions
19/06/2025
//

B&T is Australia’s leading news publication magazine for the advertising, marketing, media and PR industries.

 

B&T is owned by parent company The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.

About B&T

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise

Top Categories

  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • TV Ratings

Sign Up for Our Newsletter



B&TB&T
Follow US
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?