Snapchat Has Been Accused of Releasing Another Racist Filter

Snapchat has incurred the wrath of social media yet again, weathering flak this time for featuring a lens that many found to be racist and reminiscent of disparaging caricatures of Asians.

The offending lens, which morphs users faces by slimming their eyes, flattening their noses, rouging their cheeks, and exaggerating their teeth, channels long-standing stereotypes about Asian physical features, many hastened to observe, recalling America’s track record of offensively portraying Asian characters with white actors in yellowface.

Many outlets, including Mashable and The Verge, in the course of reporting this story have taken the occasion to contemplate the depiction of the Asian-American Mr. Yunioshi in the iconic Audrey Hepburn film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The abrasive and vaudevillian portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi, who was famously played by Mickey Rooney with his eyes taped back, has been roundly criticized for marring an otherwise charming and delightful movie.

Snapchat, while protesting that the anime-inspired lens was meant to be whimsical, took the lens down nevertheless. It’s not clear who signed off on the lens or thought it was a remotely prudent idea, especially in a social climate in which the line between offensive and funny grows finer each day.

This latest controversy comes just months after the social media platform was forced to remove its Bob Marley filter, released in celebration of 4/20, which was accused of amounting to digital blackface, Engadget reports. Snapchat ought to reevaluate its vetting procedures and save itself unnecessary grief.