Blak Ryno Explains Why He Will Continue Skin Bleaching
Dancehall artist Blak Ryno is unfazed by the heavy criticism he received when he unveiled a new lighter skin tone earlier this week.
The deejay debuted the new look, achieved through the use of skin bleaching creams, in the official video for his single Pedestal, which left many longtime fans shocked. Several of them ridiculed the Bike Back singer, with some even suggesting that he should now change his name to “White Ryno” or “Brown Ryno.”
Ryno, who took to Instagram Live yesterday to address his critics, has said that it’s not anyone’s business what he does with his body.
The former Portmore Empire affiliate also made it clear that he has no intention of stopping the practice. “Me nah go stop bleach, me ah continue bleaching, me buy some more bleaching cream and some more gel, mix them well and bleach me nah care wah none ah unuh say,” he said.
For Blak Ryno, the skin bleaching may be a part of his artistic expression as he revealed that he’s getting some ink as well. “Me have some tattoo to put on too.”
Looking in high spirits, the singer explained that he’s unphased by the criticism because he’s had to endure years of bitterness from Dancehall fans and critics. “But ah uno ah kill de people dem and nah know that. So me get strong and unuh ah train me for ten years.”
As far as he is concerned nobody is perfect and until the world gets its act together he is going to do what he wants with his body. “Nobody nah perfect because unuh make me find out over the years when unuh say Ryno this and Ryno that,” he said.
“See how much man ah turn to man and how woman ah turn to woman right now?” See how many relationships based off threesome?”
He does not believe that bleaching is wrong and regards it as a personal choice. “Me know say nothing wrong with wah me ah do. You know how me know say nothing nah wrong with wah me ah do. Thy why me ah laugh at dem people dey,” he continued.
Many artists within the last ten years have explored bleaching their skin for various reasons. The man who got Ryno into the business back in 2005, Vybz Kartel was a well-known bleacher.
Last year during a symposium, Corporate executive Zachary Harding, who is the former manager of the Sean Paul, recounted a conversation he had with Kartel when he first started bleaching. “I just found it fascinating because he was fascinated with the question of ‘was Sean’s brownness an influential factor in his success’ versus Kartel’s success,” Harding had said.
Other popular Dancehall artists who appear to have embraced skin bleaching include Intence, Jahvillani, I Waata, and Sikka Rymes.