CurlyNikki Responds

[LdyKamz]

From a poster on Naturally Curly :

The article that was linked didn't say that type three hair wasn't accepted in the natural movement--though I'm sure someone has felt that way. And even if the article had said that, it would be nonsense.
P
So is the idea that the natural hair movement isn't for white women--give me a break.
One of the lead forums that has spear-headed "the natural hair movement" and been a resource for folks including future bloggers/vloggers and Youtubers etc. is this site which was created by white women long before many black women could stand to look at the hair growing from their head. I hate it when people don't know history/facts.
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/3/173349-not-us.html[/QUOT

eta: (phone won't let me bold) Re: last paragraph. Yeah maybe that site was around BUT itdidn't have enough information for US which is why other sites were created. Are people really wanting to fight about this. Bottom line. This is ours, you can't have it. I know you aren't used to hearing it white folks but NO, you can't have this so move on!!

 

[cami88]

I think there are a lot of hidden white faces in the black natural hair movement.

Sadly, I think you might be right. I am just floored that Curly Nikki would sell her site to white people. It feels like the time I learned Ampro gel was manufactured by whites.

Sent from my galaxy s4 using LHCF

 

[curlytwirly06]

Some interesting stuff from another forum about how NC is wanting to monopolize the Natural Movement:

Ironically enough, CharJay tweeted this in 2011, in response to some other Curly Nikki drama.

Read This After reading the attachments:

POSTER 1: Notice the issue of Naturally Curly buying up black owned sites came up in the letter. The following bloggers/sites were all bought out by NC.

CharJay (above)
Quest/Denim Pixie (just mentioned her yesterday)
Taren916 ()
NaturalChica


POster 2
The poster in this thread that said that the bloggers speaking out for CN all happened to be NC sponsored, was spot on. CharJay didn't weigh in on the recent controversy but her tweet from 2011 is enough to let me know how she thinks.


I remember when that letter was posted on here, I unsubscribed from CharJay and AE back then.
I was done with DenimPixie and Curlykimmystar the other day too and I think I also unsubscribed from Makeupandbeautyjunki e.
Not NaturalChica too?

Dang, NC wants to own the natural hair movement.

 

[curlytwirly06]

Another post from another form talking about how Nikki has always been about her money over loyalty and has plagiarized (read stolen) content from BGLH a while back:

Originally Posted by lurkinonthelow View Post
First let me say that I joined this forum JUST SO I COULD COMMENT ON THIS THREAD (lol!) That's how deep this is to me.

I am SO HAPPY that people are putting two and two together regarding Nikki and her shady ways. I've been a fan of Black Girl Long Hair since it started and I witnessed the fight (well, really it was one-sided, so I should say "the bullying") in 2009. But ladies, that's just the half of it. I was so upset about the whole incident that I started tracking other instances of CN's shadyness. So you ready? Here we go:

1. In March 2009, although it's very clear that she's, um, borrowed heavily from the tone and content of BGLH, CN publicizes private emails that Leila sends her, asking her to stop.

2. I know for a fact that Leila reached out to CN at LEAST 3 times to try to smooth things over, in addition to a third blogger reaching out to both to try to reconcile, CN didn't respond all 3 times.

3. CN keeps the post bashing Leila and BGLH up on her site for MONTHS, and allows over 300 nasty comments towards Leila to accrue. She only takes the post down the week she is featured on the Tyra Banks show. (Probably because her fake *** brand is supposed to be about "positivity" and she was afraid of being seen for the ***** that she really was.)

4. All links to and mentions of BGLH on CN's site are automatically deleted. So, for example, if someone leaves a comment on an article that references BGLH. (As in, "Oh yeh, this is great information! Similar to an article I saw on BGLH!) It is automatically deleted.

5. The day after BGLH launches their first forum, CurlyNikki *magically* launches her forum less than 12 hours later stating that "she got the idea from her readers" (SMH)

6. CN is acquired by NaturallyCurly.com (aka TextureMedia, Inc. TextureMedia) for an undisclosed sum. NaturallyCurly.com feeds into CN's swagger jacking ways. The heads of the company proceed to buy up as many natural hair blogs as they can or pay the writers off (Cassadie of Natural Selection, CurlyNikki.com, Charyjay on YouTube, Elle of the Denim Pixie, Natural Chica are all on the NaturallyCurly payroll in some way). NaturallyCurly begins a slow process of blackballing of any natural hair site that is not in their 'crew'.

7. NaturallyCurly feeds stories to the media (HuffingtonPost, New York Times and Essence.com) about their bloggers. Now, check this out, The New York Times did a story about NATURAL HAIR BLOGGERS AND VLOGGERS WHO MAKE A LIVING DOING IT. To my knowledge there are very FEW (probably less than 5) women online who make a fulltime salary off of blogging/vlogging. But the three we know for sure are: CurlyNikki, KimmayTube and Leila of BGLH. Because all three have mentioned it before. And yet the article features CurlyNikki, KimmayTube and NATURAL CHICA. The story was a NaturallyCurly.com vehicle to introduce CurlyNikki & NaturalChica to the mainstream press, they threw KimmayTube in there (who, later on Twitter said she DID NOT like how the interview went down) for the appearance of objectivity. And blackballed Leila of BGLH, who is probably one of the highest earning natural hair bloggers/vloggers.

8. The same occurs for stories in the HuffingtonPost (which omit Leila and BGLH) and Essence.com

9. NaturallyCurly.com strikes a partnership with Essence.com to share and distribute some of CurlyNikki's content and make her their natural hair expert.

10. Essence does a "Hot Hair" issue in October -- and DESPITE THEM PREVIOUSLY MENTIONING BGLH AS A GREAT WEB RESOURCE -- and despite the fact that Leila's site is one of the highest ranked (traffic-wise) black beauty sites on the web, period, the site is OMITTED from their list of "web leaders"

11. NaturalChica -- whose blog is dismal (though her channel is cool) -- is listed as a web leader.

So, there you have it. CurlyNikki is insidiously spiteful and has taken her nasty attitude to the offices of NaturallyCurly.com

Oh, and don't even get me started on how NaturallyCurly.com is basically using Nikki as "blackface" because they know that, as two white women with loosely curled hair, they don't have widespread credibility with black women -- who they make the majority of their money off of.

Someone mentioned earlier in this thread that they were happy to see CurlyNikki's "brand expanding". Well, when you have the backing of a multimillion dollar company (NaturallyCurly/TextureMedia) of COURSE you're gonna be able to throw upscale events, land celebrity interview and do press appearances. It's true that Nikki was doing some of these things prior to being acquired by NaturallyCurly, but it's accelerated wildly since she joined the team. It's smoke and mirrors. They are working the levers behind the scenes and want you to think it's all Nikki's doing.

 

[Bette Davis Eyes]

and they are full of ca ca.

Why do you think Dee left NC and started NP?

A lot of folks never liked Dee and what she stood for but she created NP for a good damn reason. Call her Militant if you want but there was a need to create a space eked out for us.

To this day I subscribed over there and give money to the site even if I dont post over there actively. I dont post over here a lot either but I've been joined since 08. I used to come before that and lurk. Same thing with NC, I was over there lurking years before I joined.

Texturemedia has made a lot of money off of the natural movement. Yes, you have different curls types over there and its more than hair going over there BUT take a real good look whos posting in the hair forums and whos posting in the other forums.

I was over there giving many of companies are start by giving my reviews and then they lost their damn mind with the treatment of the Type 4 forum. So I took all my links out and stopped posting.

Like I said in the beginning of this mess, the article didn't bother me but they should have reworded those questions.

I just find it hilarious how folks now realize TM was buying up all the blogs. So yall didnt realize they was sending them products for reviews and hosting their videos on their own channels?

 

[lookingforkeona]

Sorry, I'm Team Nikki.

I agree with her for not addressing whatever waterlily said, that's none of her business. She didn't know she was being "trolled" when she decided to put her on the blog. She addressed the big issue of why she put a white woman on the blog anyway.

I, for one, agree with her points. I've never been about exclusion and I'm not going to start because I've joined the natural hair movement.

 

[Mz.MoMo5235]

I'm so irate by all of this!!!

 

[Saludable84]

Deleted post

 

[intellectualuva]

After looking at that post count & comment.

 

[Ogoma]

Are you on the TM payroll too? I really can't believe you are wishfully thinking that statement

Don't bother responding to comments like those. They always pop up when we are cohesive so the thread can disintegrate into in-fighting. Ignore. As @IDareT'sHair noted it is a tactic that we should not let be successful.

 

[Saludable84]

Don't bother responding to comments like those. They always pop up when we are cohesive so the thread can disintegrate into in-fighting. Ignore. As @IDareT'sHair noted it is a tactic that we should not let be successful.

Ok. I found it weird too. I will delete.

Thanks!

 

[LdyKamz]

Sorry, I'm Team Nikki.

I agree with her for not addressing whatever waterlily said, that's none of her business. She didn't know she was being "trolled" when she decided to put her on the blog. She addressed the big issue of why she put a white woman on the blog anyway.

I, for one, agree with her points. I've never been about exclusion and I'm not going to start because I've joined the natural hair movement.

That is very nice for you dear. I'm sure Curly Nikki welcomes you with open arms. Come back when that site is predominately white and let us know your thoughts.

I just couldnt resist ya'll.

 

[Divine.]

Deleted. Not worth it

 

[JulietWhiskey]

Another post from another form talking about how Nikki has always been about her money over loyalty and has plagiarized (read stolen) content from BGLH a while back:

Originally Posted by lurkinonthelow View Post
First let me say that I joined this forum JUST SO I COULD COMMENT ON THIS THREAD (lol!) That's how deep this is to me.

I am SO HAPPY that people are putting two and two together regarding Nikki and her shady ways. I've been a fan of Black Girl Long Hair since it started and I witnessed the fight (well, really it was one-sided, so I should say "the bullying") in 2009. But ladies, that's just the half of it. I was so upset about the whole incident that I started tracking other instances of CN's shadyness. So you ready? Here we go:

1. In March 2009, although it's very clear that she's, um, borrowed heavily from the tone and content of BGLH, CN publicizes private emails that Leila sends her, asking her to stop.

2. I know for a fact that Leila reached out to CN at LEAST 3 times to try to smooth things over, in addition to a third blogger reaching out to both to try to reconcile, CN didn't respond all 3 times.

3. CN keeps the post bashing Leila and BGLH up on her site for MONTHS, and allows over 300 nasty comments towards Leila to accrue. She only takes the post down the week she is featured on the Tyra Banks show. (Probably because her fake *** brand is supposed to be about "positivity" and she was afraid of being seen for the ***** that she really was.)

4. All links to and mentions of BGLH on CN's site are automatically deleted. So, for example, if someone leaves a comment on an article that references BGLH. (As in, "Oh yeh, this is great information! Similar to an article I saw on BGLH!) It is automatically deleted.

5. The day after BGLH launches their first forum, CurlyNikki *magically* launches her forum less than 12 hours later stating that "she got the idea from her readers" (SMH)

6. CN is acquired by NaturallyCurly.com (aka TextureMedia, Inc. TextureMedia) for an undisclosed sum. NaturallyCurly.com feeds into CN's swagger jacking ways. The heads of the company proceed to buy up as many natural hair blogs as they can or pay the writers off (Cassadie of Natural Selection, CurlyNikki.com, Charyjay on YouTube, Elle of the Denim Pixie, Natural Chica are all on the NaturallyCurly payroll in some way). NaturallyCurly begins a slow process of blackballing of any natural hair site that is not in their 'crew'.

7. NaturallyCurly feeds stories to the media (HuffingtonPost, New York Times and Essence.com) about their bloggers. Now, check this out, The New York Times did a story about NATURAL HAIR BLOGGERS AND VLOGGERS WHO MAKE A LIVING DOING IT. To my knowledge there are very FEW (probably less than 5) women online who make a fulltime salary off of blogging/vlogging. But the three we know for sure are: CurlyNikki, KimmayTube and Leila of BGLH. Because all three have mentioned it before. And yet the article features CurlyNikki, KimmayTube and NATURAL CHICA. The story was a NaturallyCurly.com vehicle to introduce CurlyNikki & NaturalChica to the mainstream press, they threw KimmayTube in there (who, later on Twitter said she DID NOT like how the interview went down) for the appearance of objectivity. And blackballed Leila of BGLH, who is probably one of the highest earning natural hair bloggers/vloggers.

8. The same occurs for stories in the HuffingtonPost (which omit Leila and BGLH) and Essence.com

9. NaturallyCurly.com strikes a partnership with Essence.com to share and distribute some of CurlyNikki's content and make her their natural hair expert.

10. Essence does a "Hot Hair" issue in October -- and DESPITE THEM PREVIOUSLY MENTIONING BGLH AS A GREAT WEB RESOURCE -- and despite the fact that Leila's site is one of the highest ranked (traffic-wise) black beauty sites on the web, period, the site is OMITTED from their list of "web leaders"

11. NaturalChica -- whose blog is dismal (though her channel is cool) -- is listed as a web leader.

So, there you have it. CurlyNikki is insidiously spiteful and has taken her nasty attitude to the offices of NaturallyCurly.com

Oh, and don't even get me started on how NaturallyCurly.com is basically using Nikki as "blackface" because they know that, as two white women with loosely curled hair, they don't have widespread credibility with black women -- who they make the majority of their money off of.

Someone mentioned earlier in this thread that they were happy to see CurlyNikki's "brand expanding". Well, when you have the backing of a multimillion dollar company (NaturallyCurly/TextureMedia) of COURSE you're gonna be able to throw upscale events, land celebrity interview and do press appearances. It's true that Nikki was doing some of these things prior to being acquired by NaturallyCurly, but it's accelerated wildly since she joined the team. It's smoke and mirrors. They are working the levers behind the scenes and want you to think it's all Nikki's doing.

I'm over here like, !


SMH. What we do in the dark...

 

[Divine.]

Don't bother responding to comments like those. They always pop up when we are cohesive so the thread can disintegrate into in-fighting. Ignore. As @IDareT'sHair noted it is a tactic that we should not let be successful.

Man, I took the bait didn't I?

 

[Enyo]

Divine. I feel you. I'm not sure why certain blacks feel like we should be overly accommodating to a group of people who never reciprocates unless forced. I know some folks think it's more...elevated...to say that all forms of discrimination are wrong, but in the case of non-whites, that is simply not the case. Non-whites banding together and supporting their own is how so many groups were able to make social progress. When you put white people into the equation, things just get more complicated than they already are when it's just "us".

This is going on in Hawaii right now because Hawaiians want to be self-governing. A lot of people have good points as to why the idea may not work, but it pisses me off when I see white people trying to be all up in the conversation with their personal opinions. They don't seem to want to accept that their race is the reason why there are so few Hawaiian left and why they tend to be the poorest group despite being the original inhabitants. Hmm. I think that sound familiar. I wish the average white person would be banned from speaking on the subject down here. There are lots of white historians and sociopolitical experts who weigh in, but they tend to stick to facts which is cool. But everyone else needs to have a seat.

 

[Golden75]

Man, I took the bait didn't I?

But what you said was truth. Wish you didn't delete, but glad I read it before you did.

 

[LdyKamz]

But what you said was truth. Wish you didn't delete, but glad I read it before you did.

Yeah because I missed it.

 

[Divine.]

Yeah because I missed it.

Now I kinda wish I didn't delete it I was really irritated as I wrote that post so I didn't want to incite any negative emotions in this thread.

 

[CodeRed]

The funniest part of this whole thing will be when Nikki loses her foundation supporters for fair-weather replacements and Sarah comes out winning with a whole solid army of white (and some black) supporters who feel sorry for her being "attacked".

This whole thing is stupid but I can't help but just laugh - especially at Nikki.

 

[girlcherokee]

You know I think everything happens for a reason. I'm going over to YouTube and do some house cleaning. Boy was there so much I didn't know - thanks for the info

 

[DayStar]

We got a lot of Auntie Coons on this board always ready to jump to massas defense. Yeah I said it.

 

[Froreal3]

I'm sorry. I keep reading this and am becoming ever increasingly confused. Hasn't the word "natural hair" been part of the black lexicon for a minute now? For the past 40 years, hasn't it meant you don't have a perm/relaxer? erplexed

Has this word in this context been part of the white community?

Have white people been wanting to adopt this word as a reference to their hair back in 1980?

^^No? So why do they want to now? *scratches head*

For white women, what would "natural" be in direct opposition to?

As an aside: It's funny that the white women who do have sense and are agreeing with our stance are pretty much ignored.

 

[NaturallyATLPCH]

I thought being "natural" in the white community had absolutely nothing to do with texture, but hair color (natural blonde, brunette, etc.).

I did a quick survey of my white friends and "natural" at the gym and they referred to their hair color. No one commented on their texture. NO ONE.

I know that's a small sample but I thought it was interesting.

Now all of a sudden it refers to texture since we, yes WE, started this movement.

Hmmmm...

Great points ladies. Great reads.

 

[Froreal3]

^^^Good point NaturallyATLPCH

I've heard white women say, "It's natural" in reference to their color all the time. To the majority, it wouldn't make sense to say it in reference to their texture. Natural as opposed to what?

And yes, I know white women with curly hair straighten, but even they don't say "I'm natural," in that way.

 

[angelhairtype4]

I'm sorry. I keep reading this and am becoming ever increasingly confused. Hasn't the word "natural hair" been part of the black lexicon for a minute now? For the past 40 years, hasn't it meant you don't have a perm/relaxer? erplexed

Has this word in this context been part of the white community?

Have white people been wanting to adopt this word as a reference to their hair back in 1980?

^^No? So why do they want to now? *scratches head*

For white women, what would "natural" be in direct opposition to?

As an aside: It's funny that the white women who do have sense and are agreeing with our stance are pretty much ignored.

I honestly thought to white woman being natural meant they don't shave and are into organic products. Not one white person I've come across refers to their hair as natural, but just refer to it as HAIR.

 

[curlytwirly06]

Not my post, shared by a lady in another forum:

In light of recent events, I thought it would be a good idea to make a thread to list the New Blacks who have sold out so I and others can unsubscribe/ stop giving them clicks. So far I know of:

Curly Nikki (Obvs) ( Also notorious in her early days for stealing content, editing it, and pushing it off as her own a.k.a BGLH drama and her grease post- directly stolen and did not even bother to edit it before passing it off as her own)

Denim Pixie (Quest for the Perfect Curl)
CharyJay
Taren916 (Also a bad example to represent BW, cheated and pregnant by a married man, dissed the wife on social media, been very messy, catty, to her)

The Natural Haven (JC)
NaturalChica
SunKissed Alba
Melshary Arias

People to Support:
Jouelzy
KashTV
FusionofCultures
J. Joelle
HelloLowelo
Chime Edwards (aka Haircrush)
Rinny Riot

Background Information: (LUXE Thank you girl!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by luxe View Post
For those that need background.

Curly Nikki featured a white woman on her blog. Not a big deal when you consider the fact that CN is now owned by NaturallyCurly/Texture Media. However, things reached a fever pitch on Sunday when the white woman got on twitter proclaiming that black women were being exclusive, the natural hair movement was not created for black women, and that the blog is called "CURLY Nikki not BlackNikki". She deleted certain tweets once she got called out, but we have screencaps.

The thread covering everything is here.


There have been numerous articles, blogs, tumblr and facebook posts surrounding her reaction and both sides of the argument.

Some blogs/responses:
http://blackgirllonghair.com/2014/07...is-not-racism/
http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2014/...r-white-woman/
http://www.ebony.com/style/white-wom...#axzz36eNXanRx
http://blog.franchesca.net/post/9051...hair-tutorials
http://madamenoire.com/444464/seriou...n-teamnatural/
http://blackgirllonghair.com/2014/07...t-black-women/

Other responses (from twitter, facebook etc) were posted in the thread mentioned.

An Ebony writer (article listed above) chimed in very early in the debate speaking about the importance of the Natural Hair Movement and black women having safe spaces to commune and share experiences, motivations, and stories etc.

Curly Nikki decided to respond (I refuse to link her blog, if you want to read her response it was posted in the thread I mentioned above) and focused on attacking Jamilah (author of the Ebony article) rather than discussing the debate at hand or the ignorant comments that Sarah (the white woman) made. She also tried to claim that her blog was always all inclusive and that she never started it for only black women, though her bio specifically says the opposite.



She basically sold out for white money/clicks/pageviews and is willing to alienate the black women who got her site to the place where it is today.

Melshary, Taren, SunKissAlba and others all spoke out in favor of CN and Sarah. The original thread is worth the read if you actually care, if you just want to be obtuse, kindly find a seat on the sidelines and stay there.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Creole Kickin View Post
If anyone does not see the significance in boycotting some of these "gurus", I suggest you do some research.

Some of these "gurus" have auctioned and sold themselves and their brand to the highest bidder. That highest bidder also happens to be white.

So while you're watching and coveting these YTers, thinking they are doing something innovative with the "Natural Hair Movement", they are ushering in a new movement, which is to allow non-blacks in the "Natural Hair Movement". These "gurus" are serving as bridges between black women who by and large, experienced the "Natural Hair Movement" in peace without infiltration from others, and others who seek to infiltrate that space and capitalize on it---and eventually push black women out and either claim the movement for themselves or claim to have revolutionized the movement.

That is why you see these "gurus" aligning themselves with this mess and other non-blacks into the "Natural Hair Movement".


I think the person who wrote this piece, made a good point. They also wrote that it is important to be careful in who you support and allow to become a talking head for your cause and community.

 

[ezina]

^I feel so betrayed by some of those bloggers you mentioned that are apparently backed by Naturally Curly...and breathed a huge sigh of relief reading the list of those not backed by Naturally Curly. The latter group represents my hair better, anyway.

I just hope, in light of this situation, that the Naturally Curly backed bloggers will grow some sense and jump ship. But the dollar is king so who knows.

 

[Ogoma]

^^^ if people actively stop supporting them, there would be no $ to be king to. But, they are banking on lots of talk and inaction. Time will tell if they are right.

 

[kellistarr]

I came back to this post to read up on others thoughts and opinions and read rawsilk's post.

rawsilk Wow, that was incredibly moving; refreshed my memory, put things in proper perspective, brought back good ol' times and bad ones and was beautifully stated.