Snapchat Releases (Another) Racist Filter

Massively popular messaging service Snapchat is once again under fire for introducing a filter that turns users into the kind of slanted-eyed, buck-toothed Asian caricatures, which many have now dubbed Yellowface Filter. Immediately after its release, the internet went into full-on backlash mode, leading the tech company to pull the filter. 

This is not the first time the company has come under fire for releasing a racist filter: On April 20, they introduced a “Bob Marley” filter that imposed dreadlocks on its users. This time, the company is standing by their statement that this filter was “anime-inspired,” but we aren’t aware of many anime characters that resemble vaudevillian “Yellow Peril” performers, à la “Ching, Chong Chinaman” and Mickey Rooney from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Come on, Snapchat, if you’re trying to be racist (and at this point, it seems like you are, indeed, trying) at least get your racist references up to date: The internet is up to the second, don’t you know?