‘Does Anyone Black Work There?’ Barbie with Blond Hair and Cornrows Sparks Controversy

{snip}

To promote Hulu’s new Barbie documentary, the Barbie Style Instagram account posted a photo of three Barbies sitting on a couch with a computer.

{snip}

The two white Barbies wore their hair pulled back into ponytails. The black Barbie had dark cornrows on one side of her head and curly blond hair on the other.

The hairstyle prompted much head-shaking, confusion and even anger on social media, even as some applauded Mattel for continuing its diversity efforts.

{snip}

“Lol barbie … this is actually just embarrassing,” tweeted one critic. “Like they wanted to fit every black hair style on one head. The cornrows, the dyed weave, body wave bundles. Why? Why? Why? Just ask any black person and they will tell you, that you don’t do this anywhere. ANYWHERE!”

On the other hand, some people didn’t get the fuss.

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kandi Burruss recognized that hairstyle. It used to be hers.

{snip}

“Still,” wrote Allure magazine, “the general consensus was negative, so time will tell if Mattel takes that into consideration in the future.”

{snip}