Social media influencer Sarah Langa reached the top of the trends list this past weekend after a video of her went viral.
Sarah was dragged by social media users following a clip from “Festive Get-together in The Life Artois” in which she talks about “pretty girl privilege”.
In the video, Sarah is speaking to media personality Unathi Nkayi.
“There’s pretty girl privilege and let’s not shy away from that.
“Your role is to uplift people that don’t feel pretty as a pretty person, because you are constantly praised.
“So it does come with a lot of hate but that’s a part of the responsibility, to understand where the hate comes from, and the hate it deeply rooted in the privilege.
“And the privilege is what people don’t want to acknowledge”, said Sarah.
Watch below:
Sarah Langa on pretty girl privilege 👌🏽❤️ She captured it so well. I’m glad she is aware of it and not denying it pic.twitter.com/SAb4zwObrh
— Mampho B (@mampho_b) June 4, 2021
Following the video appearing on Twitter, many took issue with Sarah’s comments.
Some tweeps asked how it was her responsibility to uplift those who aren’t “pretty” and how would she define that.
See below:
Sarah Langa has never opened her mouth and made sense. 🤧 it’s Unathi for me, she gaslote uBabes. Chi
— Bonnie🏳️🌈 (@bonikhanz) June 5, 2021
Ok, let's say she meant what you just explained here.. Are women who deem themselves as less pretty going to suddenly see their prettiness because Sarah Langa says they are? How would Sarah Langa make sure no girl is mistreated because she's not considered Pretty, pragmatically?
— Anza Tshilidzi (@MAnzatshilidzi) June 5, 2021
Sarah Langa is also a classed woman with influence. If she wants to uplift undesirable women she can also put them in campaigns and push for representation within her means. This is how you use your influence to address issues not by fruitless compliments.
— Chantelle (@Chant_ella) June 6, 2021
Sarah Langa really said "as a pretty girl with pretty privilege, your role is to uplift people who dont feel pretty." 😭😭
— MPHO🌻 (@MphoMoalamedi) June 5, 2021
It's so harmful to reduce desirability politics to "I have to make you feel pretty"
This tweet and the comments just affirmed the point that @sarahlanga making.
— sherezz.. (@xoliswashereen) June 6, 2021
While Sarah was dragged by many, there were also many tweeps who defended her, saying she was spot-on with her comments.
One user also pointed out that the clip posted on Twitter was from a much longer video and lacked context.
The Sarah Langa interview was done MONTHS ago it was such a beautiful interview by unathi. It’s 25 min long. Why choose to run with a 30 second clip without any context of the full interview . Yhu hhayi people🚶🏽♀️
— Viwe (@ViweSobantu) June 6, 2021
Uploaded on to YouTube in January this year, the full video is of Unathi interviewing Sarah and her friend and fellow luxury influencer Kefilwe Mabote about their career and friendship.
“Episode 2 takes us behind the scenes of the perfect social media world of friends Kefilwe Mabote and Sarah Langa.
“They have been the go-to girls for all things curated social media in South Africa for almost a decade.
“Unathi and Alessandro sit down with the two friends to chat about life, business, misconceptions, and legacy,” read the description on the full video
While Sarah did not respond to the criticism she received, she retweeted a tweet that explained what pretty privilege is.
Privilege isn’t the presence of perks and benefits. It’s the absence of obstacles and barriers. That’s a lot harder to notice. If you have a hard time recognizing your privileges, focus on what you don’t have to go through. Let that fuel your empathy and action.
— Marie Beecham (@mariejbeech) March 30, 2021