Snapchat has come under fire for launching a Bob Marley filter on the day of the anniversary of ‘Marijuana Day’.
Fans are angry he’s being portrayed is a “weed icon” rather than a music icon, with some social media commentators saying it is encouraging people to “black-up”.
An addition to its hugely popular ‘Lenses’ feature, the new face-alerting filter meant to make users look like late reggae legend Bob Marley.
The filter adds a Marley-style cap, dreadlocks — and darkens users’ skin tone.
That has some people complaining that the Snapchat filter is effectively a form of digital blackface.
They never had a Bob Marley filter for his birthday but there's one for 4/20?
I love #BobMarley but um…isn't this technically black face? @Snapchat pic.twitter.com/7GU2IsjKwy
— Daniel Ruiz (@danny_ruiz) April 20, 2016