Blake Lively’s backside is getting even more attention than usual this week, after she posted an image of herself at a Cannes gala for the new Woody Allen film Café Society to her eight million Instagram followers with the caption “L.A. face with an Oakland booty.”
The caption, of course, is a reference to Sir Mix-A-Lot’s chart-topping and Grammy-winning anthem on big booties from 1992, “Baby Got Back.”
Many commenters jumped on the caption, dragging the “Gossip Girl” actress for cultural appropriation and racial insensitivity. Then, as things typically go on the internet, other commenters jumped on them for being overly sensitive. Rinse and repeat, ad infinitum.
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The post has generated more than 590,000 likes and 18,500 comments in just under 24 hours, and has turned into a minefield of debate and vitriol.
Here’s a taste of the conversation the controversy prompted on Twitter.
Blake Lively quoted Sir-Mix-A-Lot. pic.twitter.com/EbDTHf2D1R
— Scott Wooledge (@Clarknt67) May 18, 2016
Blake lively doesn't have an Oakland booty she doesn't even have a Rancho cucamunga booty
— Thots and Prayers (@supersloth) May 18, 2016
What does "L.A. face with an Oakland booty" even mean? Your face is suffering a historic drought while your booty endures gang violence?
— Eric D. Snider (@EricDSnider) May 18, 2016
With how gentrified Oakland has become, Blake Lively kind of does have an LA face with an Oakland booty.
— Ian Karmel (@IanKarmel) May 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/thinkovision/status/732732202060931073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Just gonna walk around describing myself as “Plymouth Rock face with a Connecticut booty.” HOW DOES IT FEEL BLAKE LIVELY?
— Allison P Davis (@AllisonPDavis) May 18, 2016
Sir Mix is famous for a sexist song that relies on stereotypes. But Blake Lively's booty is da real problem. #GotIthttps://t.co/3rNJfdnsqG
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) May 18, 2016
No one in real world offended by Lively's Oakland booty. Few clowns via Twitter call it "cultural appropriation" instant race-click story.
— Jason Whitlock (@WhitlockJason) May 18, 2016
This is a reminder that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds got married on a plantation where slave cabins still stand. pic.twitter.com/9rbKXH2WDc
— Melissa Radzimski (@melissaradz) May 18, 2016
@blakelively instead of your Oakland booty tell us more about how Woody Allen empowers women and the abuse allegations are not your business
— fadumo (@faaaadumo) May 18, 2016
That caption was corny, but what we really need to talk about is Blake Lively's support for Woody Allen and love of the antebellum era.
— sydney scott (@sydneymscott) May 18, 2016
Y'all are really mad that Blake Lively said "LA face with an Oakland booty"?
Were y'all this sensitive before Twitter?— Khalil (@kbyrd2) May 18, 2016
WOW Can't believe Blake Lively is in trouble for quoting the words of a KNIGHT! When will the Queen step in to defend Blake's Oakland booty!
— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) May 18, 2016
Blake Lively is so curvy, reminds me of Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies, couldn't believe my eyes ??
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) May 18, 2016
You guys, I think Blake Lively is just really dumb
— Nisha Chittal (@NishaChittal) May 18, 2016
Other celebrities have referenced the line on social media before. Katy Perry dropped the line on Twitter in 2012 without causing an uproar, though she did face similar criticism from Azealia Banks for a tweet about the “trap house” last June.
LA face with an Oakland booty.
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 16, 2012
Khloe Kardashian posted it in 2015.
LA face with an Oakland booty ?? pic.twitter.com/jacFfE1Gcw
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) August 14, 2015
And so did Jonathan Lipnicki (aka the kid from 1996 movie Jerry Maguire).
