In a candid interview with Hot 97 on April 9, 2025, the Jamaican artist opened up about his controversial history with skin bleaching, revealing that what once seemed like a cosmetic decision had deeper roots in issues of identity and self-worth.
When asked about his decision to bleach his skin—a move he had previously defended and even commercialised through his own skin lightening brand—Kartel reflected on how his thinking has shifted over time. He admitted that while he once claimed it was just a way to make his many tattoos more visible, that wasn’t the full story.
“I mean, in hindsight, it definitely had to do with self-love,” he said. “But on the other hand, while I was doing it, my mind wasn’t telling me that. My mind was telling me, ‘I am doing this to show my tattoos.’ I’ve got a lot of tattoos.”
Now, looking back with more clarity, Kartel recognizes the psychological layers beneath that decision. He acknowledged that there were insecurities involved—insecurities that many Black individuals quietly struggle with, especially in societies still deeply influenced by Eurocentric beauty standards.
“But looking back,” he added, “it was just… as a Black man, sometimes we have those issues. But I would never bleach again though. Never.”
Pressed to elaborate on what he meant by “those issues,” Kartel didn’t hesitate to address the lingering effects of colonialism and the way it has shaped perceptions of beauty in the Black community.
“That Eurocentric look… Black people have always wanted to look like that. I guess it has to do with slavery,” he explained, speaking to the generational impact of systemic ideals that continue to shape how some Black individuals view themselves and their natural features.
His words signal a significant evolution from his earlier stance. In the past, Kartel had fiercely defended his skin bleaching, even pushing back against critics by pointing out what he saw as double standards in the Black community. In one previously shared post, he challenged the idea that skin bleaching was any different from other popular beauty practices, writing, “99.99% of Black women (1) cream their hair or (2) wear ‘Caucasian’ wigs,” in an effort to justify his own choices.
Despite the backlash he faced, Kartel never shied away from controversy. Whether in music or personal branding, he was known for shaking up norms and confronting taboo subjects. His embrace of skin bleaching in the late 2000s sparked intense debate, particularly across the Caribbean, where discussions around colorism and Black identity remain especially charged.
But today, his tone has changed. No longer defending the decision, Kartel now regards it as a phase shaped by both personal and societal struggles—a phase he’s now left behind. He spoke not just as an artist reflecting on a past image, but as a man who’s done some deep soul-searching after spending over a decade behind bars.
His message now is simple: self-acceptance is the way forward. Skin bleaching, for him, is no longer an expression of individuality—it was a mask, one he’s since chosen to remove permanently.
