PBS Admits They Lied About Betty Boop Being White-Washed | The Found Records Podcast

[@RambleMaven]

You handled this topic with such grace. I really appreciate it as a Black American viewer 💖

[@jessicavill]

Thank you so much! ❤️

[@joanofarcxxi]

I am from Portugal. I used to watch Betty Boop old cartoons with my dad and my sisters as a child, and I have loved her character all my life ever since, and never had heard of the "color" issue until recently. There is a plan to divide people and to create conflict. Be aware of it, stay alert, and don't fall for it. The beautiful thing about humans is how creative we are, and how sharing ideas and culture actually is stimulating and brings joy and unity to people all around the world. The powers that be don't want us united, because there is strength in numbers. Boo-poo-pee-doo.❤

[@idkmyname8619]

Saying you can’t wear a hair style or dress up as someone with a different skin color is the most backhanded racist thing to say

[@tarijdjackson]

However , If it’s a cultural hairstyle with history ,then there has to be boundaries surrounding that . If you’re indulging in other cultures then there has to be respect with it … but with this situation, yes it is dumb

[@lazyshooter23]

​@@tarijdjackson Can you give a logical argument as to why there must be boundaries surrounding a hairstyle due to a particular cultural history that you've found holds up under scrutiny from alternative view points? If so, please post here so people can read it.

[@sopita2236]

@@lazyshooter23 Appropriation is using something cultural and using it in a way that is disrespectful. Many cultural things are given as gifts from generation to generation and you completely strip it of its value when the fast fashion industry mass produces it for party city or forever 21 just so some random person can buy a mockery of that sacred thing for $16. There isn’t anything wrong with culture exchange but you can’t use something deeply meaningful to a whole group of people just because you feel like it when you aren’t invited to participate. It’s also a consequence of colonization, capitalism and the deep rooted racism in America. I don’t think this would be that big of a problem if it weren’t for that.

[@crisgarza2016]

There is cultural appropriation too such as Pocahontas

[@tarijdjackson]

@@lazyshooter23 for example from MY culture, African American, our way of braiding our hair and our styles in general are a sensitive subject to us. We are still punished and scrutinized for wearing our hair in certain ways. It becomes problematic when other races use those hairstyles , renames them, and make it “trendy”… they are benefiting from my culture all while I am still judged and demeaned for it .

[@Johnsrage]

For a more accurate history regarding the creation of Betty Boop, I suggest you read "The Fleischer Story" by Leslie Carbaga. In putting together his book he interviewed many of the artists that worked for Max Fleischer during this period. I consider him one of the best authorities on the character. Jerry Beck is another animation historian who knows a lot about this subject, I'm sure any information he has is going to more correct than anything some PBS reporter has to offer. Betty was designed and animated by an artist named Grim Natwick, a super talented animator that specialized in drawing pretty girls. He later went on to design Snow White for Walt Disney's studio. Grim lived to be almost 100 years old. One of the last places he worked was Richard William's studio, so I'm pretty sure he also worked on Roger Rabbit.

[@rodlewin5679]

Love your defence of real history vs the new version. More people need to understand history is the past, like it or not, you can’t change it but you can learn not to repeat it. Keep it up Jessica.

[@blackpinups]

Side note, Marilyn Monroe looked and acted very much like Betty Boop in Some Like It Hot singing, "I Wanna Be Loved By You."

[@ajaxfilms]

Betty reminds me of Clara Bow, Helen Kane, and Ester Jones...Mae Questel did Betty's voice as I understand. I love them all!

[@bunnycrazygirl]

jessica I cannot freaking wait to see what else you cover on this podcast. your grace combined with your love of history and truth is something the word needs rn. keep up the good work girlie.

[@jessicavill]

Thank you so much!!

[@FuturologyTheMusical]

"Baby" Esther Lee Jones, originally billed as Little, Li'l or Lil' Esther, was a child entertainer who lived in Chicago, Illinois. She was initially managed by her parents, Gertrude and William Jones. Esther was a trained scat singer, dancer and acrobat who performed regularly at nightclubs in Harlem and all over the United States in the 1920s. In her act, "Baby Esther" danced, made funny faces, rolled her eyes, and-most famously-interpolated wordless phrases such as "Boo-Boo-Boo", "Wha-Da-Da", and "Doo-Doo-Doo".

[@Notoriousalcoholic]

Nice copy-paste

[@sarahross7748]

As scat singers did. That does not mean that she was the original Betty .

[@FuturologyTheMusical]

@@sarahross7748 If you read what I wrote I said the Cartoon Betty Boop was never Black. Look further into Lil Jones. There are similarities far more than just skating.

[@sarahross7748]

I’m sorry i don’t see where you wrote those words in your above statement. I agree with this video that Betty was a character of many great female stars of the late ‘20s.

[@FuturologyTheMusical]

@@sarahross7748 I also wrote - You can't discount it. Fact is, from slavery to music like Ragtime, Jazz, Blues, R&B, Rock & Roll, even disco etc. all rooted in the diasporas of the African American culture, have been appropriated and adapted as part of the core fabric of this country's culture. For over 100 years now Blacks have been undervalued for their contribution to the arts, science, and more. I'm a Black man who loves Elvis Presley even though he was before my time. (I could do a pretty good impersonation) But he appropriated most of what made him a star. And that's cool as long as it is acknowledged. Elvis acknowledged this. Check out this short clip from 1929 5 years before Elvis was born. You get pushback because Blacks have been denied the history of our contributions and we still do.

[@barbarasmith7663]

I feel so bad for Helen Kane in all of this. Since this rumour started I’ve seen so much unwarranted hate hurled at her. Fleisher clearly based Betty Boop off her, and she totally deserved to win that lawsuit. There’s not even any solid evidence she “stole” boop-boop-a-doop from baby Esther, I think that story was pushed by Fleischer to help their lawsuit

[@jessicavill]

Yeah I have to agree with you. Considering they kept making shorts a year later after her, to be exactly like her movies/performances, it’s way way wayyyy too obvious to me. I don’t think she had legal grounds but morally speaking, she was totally in the right.

[@RambleMaven]

I agree with the original message in the video as it acknowledges that regardless of what technicalities put out there the phrase was taken from Black Culture and uncredited. So of course I feel for Helen, but at the same time I feel worse for the folks that have gone unseen in history until recently. I hope I don’t come off argumentative because I’m not trying to be I just feel like there isn’t enough empathy to the unsung artist who are uncredited wether it was Esther or not.

[@floflo8153]

Hate hurled at her? When?

[@brittanylarkins5349]

@@floflo8153 exactly, these people are so delusional lol, Helen just like a lot of white acts, went up to Harlem to steal acts, music, singing styles, dance style, fashion styles etc. from the black American, Caribbean American, and Latin x Americans there. So, this story I'm sure has truth to it.

[@teijaflink2226]

I had not thought about this but honestly agree, if you check up videos about Helen Kane it's just hate comments and because of something that was started 100 years ago. Sure she probably was inspired by other people (though no proof really she took everything from Esther) but tell me an artist who isn't, I'm sure Esther was inspired by other artists too (specially being just a child). Betty Boop character definitely seems mostly created after Helen even if she's probably inspired from different women (both white and black) from that era too

[@ashleyterrazas]

Growing up my grandmother had about 25 statues of Betty Boop in a glass case! I loved looking at all of them every time I went to her house.

[@maxwell.2005]

I love that you know and care so much about this classic cartoon character. I'm 19, and it has been so rare in my childhood to find anyone who knew about Betty Boop, or Popeye, or things like that.

[@scottgamble7767]

One other comment on the Helen Kane vs. The Fleischers debate : It was reported that the evidence was only viewed by the presiding Judge, not a jury. He made his own assessment. I agree with you that everything about Helen's "schtick" is reflected in how Betty was animated and presented by the Fleischers. It doesn't seem that they even knew who "Baby" Ester was at the time of Betty's first appearances, being that she was not a Hollywood tallent; she was up in Chicago and just then arrived to perform in NYC. That was a far travel distance (at the time pretty much by train) from Hollywood and where the Fleischer Studio was in Florida, where they set up their home base of operations. It seems more likely that they were looking for a "hook to hang their hat on" for the case. Ester was brand new 9 year old to NY and Helen an established performer of already 5 solid years on the stage (if not more). I find it hard to get over that fact, as Ms. Kane had been a professional stage performer since Ester had been in diapers. OK, if Ester Lee Jones _was_ the model for Betty, why did the Fleischers make her a pale skinned, early Twentys-something sexy flapper, and not a stereotyped (as was the custom of the day) little black girl? More like an African-American "Baby" Peggy-Jean Montgomery, who was still popular at the time? Set the boop-boop-a-doop thing aside, everything else about Betty is so Helen Kane it should have been obvious to the Judge. The one testimony, that was the linchpin for the defense, was from Ester Jones' former manager, who incidently was paid by the Fleischers $200 to appear in court ($4,577 in 2024 money). He said he originally coached Ester to skat sing and claimed he saw Kane at one of Esters performances, pegging it as months earlier than Helen's testimony of when she first started singing "_boop-boop-a-doop_". Not much was said at that point about the physical and characteristic similarities and that statement, basically hearsay, was the deciding testimony for the Judge, so Helen saddly lost her case. Judge for yourselves folks ↓ Helen Kane - I Wanna Be Loved by You (1928) ☞ kzbin.info/www/bejne/npTPfGCLgK-Bnc0&si=ZpGGTZkjL_yx1bt1

[@sopita2236]

In no way is cosplaying as a cartoon character culture appropriation ever. That’s wild especially to say that to a PR woman. Latinos loveeeee Betty Boop

[@anisa2273]

i love the way you explained her story and how you ended it in such a sweet note that she's a bit like all of us

[@brianferguson7840]

A bit off topic but, now that most networks are not showing Gone With The Wind, people wont see the fabulous performance of Hattie McDaniel " the first black woman ever to win an Oscar"😮 It was over 40 years until the next. Don't take this achievement away from her.

[@cessnaace]

She was also in Song of the South.

[@ambersummer2685]

I watch that movie for comedic reasons. Scarlet is a joke and seems so unaware of the situation and how her slaves feel. Sure the focus of the book was not about the slaves but still I find the movie hilarious. And Hattie McDaniel was a good actress and despite the role she was allowed to have to get any serious role in Hollywood, she deserved that award.

[@RambleMaven]

Didn’t she say she regretted playing such a Nanny stereotype 🤔💭 please don’t use her as a prop to promote that film.

[@DAM13N996]

​@@cessnaace Isn't that the movie Disney wanted to hide

[@cessnaace]

@@DAM13N996 Disney has stated that it will never be available, but they are referring to the U.S. It's been released on VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD in other countries.

[@Sadlander2]

All I know about cosplaying is that it exists. Seriously, I really don't know much about it but what you said at 23:15 really resonated with me! I know what it's like to do something that makes you feel good, that allows you to "be myself", so I can imagine if someone suddenly claimed that what I was doing isn't OK, taking the thing that made me feel OK in my own skin away from me. It would be a shame if someone who feels great when cosplaying Betty Boop could no longer do it without constantly having this weight, this voice in their mind _"I hope this is OK. Wait, that person is looking at me...is he/she just looking or is he/she judging me for daring to cosplay Betty Boop"_ etc... What you're doing here is a great, great thing!

[@amyu.9722]

Even is she was black, anyone could cosplay as her. People can cosplay as whatever character they want regardless of race as long as they don’t do blackface or brownface or Asian fish. Just put on the character’s clothes and hairstyle but leave skin coloring out of it 😂

[@BozeDoesGodsWork]

💯Cause you do have some people who will do black face for a character or darken their skin

[@AH-yu2pi]

Didn't think I'd be interested, but this was an insightful and well done video. Thanks for sharing.

[@visionaryventures12]

Thank you for producing a video about this. I haven’t seen the video yet beyond your introduction, but it’s important to actually know what the original sources are about the real history. It requires an actual awareness of history.

[@cinstruction3115]

Thanks for the history lesson. Something to consider: I've always heard Fleischer pronounced "Fly-shure", not "Flet-cher".

[@linziboba2053]

How did you know??? I am obsessed with Betty Boop and recently discovered your channel. I loved your podcast on Marilyn Monroe and was hoping to someday see your take on Betty Boop. And here it is!!! ❤

[@rocketdave719]

I appreciate you setting the record straight on this. Of course, aspects of African American entertainment have been appropriated by white performers, so I can kind of understand why some people might unquestioningly believe the lie that Betty Boop was supposed to be black. Still, it irks me when I see someone like Taraji P. Henson regurgitating this misinformation, the same way it does when people continue to insist that a Munchkin hanged themselves on the set of The Wizard of Oz, etc. When you talk about her popularity partially stemming from her appealing to people's nostalgia at the time, another breakout character who comes to mind is Fonzie from Happy Days. Fonzie was just supposed to be a supporting character on that show before eclipsing the rest of cast in popularity, similar to how Betty was initially created to be the love interest for Fleicher's dog character Bimbo, before becoming the main star. Incidentally, I know people will probably have pointed this out already, but Fleischer is not pronounced "Fletcher."

[@sarahross7748]

Thank you. I am so happy to see a young person wanting to know the true history of things and people. Unfortunately there has been so much erasing/changing of history recently that all of our young people in this country will be reciting false information to their friends and worst their children. Thank you for you hard work to find and record the real history.

[@kittykatbat]

Thank you for setting records straight, you rock.

[@truefan4136]

This was a great deep dive into something that could be deemed trivial but definetly needs to be addressed because history shouldnt be rewritten just to fit a false narrative,great piece ...also atleast when pertaining to cosplay color race or gender are never an issue because it just someone dressing up as their favorite characters and if not done disrespectfully,what the problem...again great podcast

[@emilysragz]

Thanks for this! I went down the rabbit hole on this exact topic not long ago. I figured Helen was also gaslit, but yeah, it's tragic that she didn't win the case, but it's also nice to know that everyone can feel free to have a connection with the character of Betty Boop. I'm thankful for your detailed research. I had a feeling you were going to attempt this topic. Well done video/podcast!

[@LaPenserosa1]

PBS can be a real bummer sometimes! Thanks for sharing the knowledge! I found your channel via the Titanic collection but your Boop short is a favorite! ❤ I've got to give a listen to the artists you mentioned but vocally Mildred Bailey always reminded me of Boop. Didn't Betty also sing "Small Fry"?

[@qwmx]

It reminds me of Beyonce's "Texas Holdem" controversey. People thought it was rejected because it wasn't "country" and it was because of racism, but someone who runs a blog ("Saving Radio") investigated and found that there were some misunderstanding behind the reasons of some rejection combined with ignorance of the public of how radio stations are allowed to operate and how they operate when selecting songs to broadcast. It seems largely a misunderstanding that snow rolled into a big talk about race and country music categorisation. Usually for these things, there's something deeper or more logical that's happened and it's all a hapless misunderstanding, or a coincidence or there are people throwing out propaganda that fits their agenda. We all must remember we have to investigate further to confirm facts as we might end up pushing and perpetuating false narratives. It's not confirmed if scatting was actually from black culture and some theories say that it was just from musicians practicing riffs as warm-ups. Personally I say it's something specific to New Orleans and just drop it at that.

[@maybellinelover]

I'm a lifelong country music fan. Fans are getting tired of the increasingly pop-sounding country. Country fans are wanting more traditional-sounding music. I think Beyonce became something of a scapegoat. She's a famous pop star and released Texas Holdem. Then, everyone was like it's country and got mad at the fans without bothering to understand where we're coming from. She's free to make the music she wants to make, and I hope that makes her happy: it's not what I want to listen to. Neither is a lot of stuff coming out of Nashville these days.

[@brittanylarkins5349]

seriously lol. IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS A NEGRO DOING A GENRE HER PEOPLE CREATED THAT GOT EVENTUALLY WATERED DOWN AND COLONIZED. END OF STORY. SCATTING CAME FROM JAZZ CREATED BY AFRO AMERICANS. SCATTING IS A FORM OF "INSTRUMENT TALKING" AS THE OLD BLACK FOLKS WOULD SAY, WHERE THE SIGNERS WOULD TRY TO PUT THE MUSIC NOTES INTO WORDS. YOU WILL NOT TAKE THIS FROM US WITH FALSE RESEARCH FINDS. MOST WHITES CNAT DANCE OR SING ON BEAT OR IN PROPER TUNE. YOU ALL HAD TO HAVE A REFERENCE POINT IE. BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC.

[@qwmx]

​@@maybellinelover ​​From what I gather, it was a misunderstanding and fans and woke people took this as an opportunity to virtue signal, but you do have a point that perhaps country becoming "pop". To get this off my chest, I see people calling country "black" music, because of the history of the banjo, but they seem to forget that country was built on European instruments too. Country is very uniquely American and can only have come from America from the uneducated, poor and lower class workers from various different cultures, European and African, slaves or not. I'm not American, but that part speaks to me as someone from rustic origins from another country.

[@monember2722]

​@@maybellineloveri have a conspiracy minded theory that the sudden influx of black people making country and claiming its black roots is on purpose. They just want country fans to push back and get ugly in order to create division. By "they", I mean those hidden hand/elite folks that perpetuate all the other divisons that seems to pop up and then linger for no good reason in this country.

[@palenymph]

If more people talked about situations like this the way you did I think the world would be a better place. A lot of KZbinrs who talk about these things always act above it all or argumentative but you say all this so respectfully.

[@jessicavill]

I really appreciate that 🥹🖤

[@codychavarria6088]

Hollywood has and still does this especially back then.

[@blueradiomedia]

very informative, love this podcast

[@KarizmaC719]

Awww what a beautiful ending 🥹

[@nikaweekes7582]

There's so much misinformation about the case, unfortunately it always gets thousands of views and comes back years after years to push a certain narrative. If only a video with correct information went viral instead and people would let both ladies Helen and Esther rest in peace. Only truth matters. (I'm commenting in support of this video)

[@DakotaFlowerfly]

Numbers can show the videos popularity but your Peter Pan transformation will be always my absolutely favourite. That video was the reason why I had cut my long hair to get that short hairstyle one year before, and I still love it.

[@scottgamble7767]

I love you Jessica and what you do. That said... and not to be a pain... but it's Max _Fleischer_. It's pronounced "Fly-sure", not "Flet-cher". Since you were getting everything else right, just wanted to go on the record with that.

[@Demolitiondude]

It is current year pbs. I caught storied lying about dune because I was in the middle of reading it for book club.

[@superdani152003]

I love how informative your videos are. Thank you for sharing with us your content❤

[@from_maria04]

I'm in love with your content Jessica! Sending a lot of hugs from Spain queeen❤😊🇪🇦

[@smashbook2006]

I never watched much of Betty Boop, but I could tell she had something special. I also never knew that they're many other stuff about her that they got wrong. Thanks for this podcast Jessica👍👏

[@LionsTigersBears]

Glad you are stepping up and saying something now. Cause no one has address issues like this. Glad you are.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@UtamagUta]

How could You bring up skatting and not add Mr. Skattman as a soundtrack? 🤣

[@AQuietNight]

Interesting side note, Betty Boop was the model for what became Japanese anime.

[@frankievalentine6112]

Makes me so happy that you have critical thinking skills beyond the surface of "wokeism"!

[@pixelk8261]

I feel like Helen Kane should have been compensated as well as all other women that were cited as inspirations for Betty Boop

[@Purple_911]

It was only Helen kane

[@Lovegirl225]

I like this video thank you for sharing, I don't think cosplay characters should have races I think it's not right to put a woman down for it everyone has the right to do what they want and feel free to create no matter your background or race this world needs some more love, the way you dressed up as Betty boop and Jessica rabbit was one of my favorites thank you queen for sharing this 😊

[@rustyrobinson8027]

Thanks again I'm glad I found your channel you're awesome ❤️🇺🇸

[@codychavarria6088]

Can you do Shirley Temple and also the sick Hollywood baby burlesque

[@MargaretRodriguez9GenY]

😯Oh Wow! I had no idea that was you that did that amazing Betty Boop cosplay! You did a fantastic job! And very well put video on Betty's character history☺👏. It can seem unimportant, but I think even pop culture history should strive to be as accurate as possible.

[@ripxdoc]

you're amazing at what you do keep it up

[@minishchap]

Max made my favorite era of Popeye too

[@Mrs.Green712]

I love Betty Boop and I appreciate your research and content!

[@anthonyhorn1647]

Beautiful,sweet, and intelligent all in one. Oh, did I leave out author. ❤

[@realyoungman3442]

I remember discovering Helen Kane one time from an old movie and I guess I just assumed that that's the person that Betty Boop was based off of without ever looking into it. That's crazy though, it's super obvious that Betty Boop was based on her, how could anyone possibly think any different.

[@ryanrockers]

PBS. More like pure bull shit

[@billybrown7953]

Left wing and paid for by the WORKING AMERICAN TAXPAYERS.

[@CamrynCarter-wx2es]

I love your channel!! you’re so amazing and pretty💗💗

[@privatedonut2914]

Realistically, people who are obsessed with Betty being white or black have some serious issues. Her skin color wasn't really integral to her character. Why does it matter? Make her Black, Asian, Hispanic, White, Blue, purple....

[@Purple_911]

IT MATTERS

[@Bigfootlochnessmonster]

The main character in Orwell’s 1984 had a job rewriting history.

[@ladykadiijha]

Thank you for this

[@frankmartinez4856]

Felix the Cat, introduced Betty Boop in his early sound cartoon (the way she looked now) I think 🤔💕😬

[@popstarprincess123]

I haven’t trusted pbs in forever

[@333stephbug]

Jess! You look stunning as always!!!🥰 Love your podcast...your hard work and passion shines thru all your work❤ Would love to see a video covering the real history of The Phantom of the Opera!😯

[@DARKPANTHERYouTube]

Always shiny Queen 💜

[@AbikiddXo]

I love Betty boop 💕 and I learned so much with your video~ thank you 🙏🏻

[@TheVanillatech]

Still looking great Bunzie! "The Death Of The Author". Happened largely because of the huge corporate takeover of the entertainment / creative industries back in the mid 2000's. Now confounded by "AI". Why waste time and money on original works being made, which might or might *not* work (risk factor), when all you have to do is take existing stories or parts of history and ... change them. Protect the bottom line, expand the profits, streamline the business, etc. When finance and money people, unburdened by creative talent, are in charge of creative industries this is what you get.

[@nanabai329]

I'm glad to see this video you covered this topic beautifully. I learned alot i also saw a video years back saying she was black thank you for doing to research. Its interesting how rumars and lies are spread with truth as well it happends with many things in history. We just need to do the research before we apread things unknowingly and you did that here. I am black and I always wanted to do cos play and I think anyone can cosplay any character or even famous people. It doesn't matter what color or race the original character was because we are all human. I want to comply gon from hunterxhunter, the blond girl from totally spies cartoon, Wednesday from Adam's family, even Audrey hepburn and many more. I think cosplay is about creatively expressing yourself with an artwork or character you admire or identify with. I do agree history is being changed to please people rather than show the truth crazy times 😊

[@HighPoweExpress]

Well done!

[@Bad_Housekeeping]

Max Fleischer was the Betty Boop creator. Don't be fooled by the AI generated transcript. It is wrong. It is making him Fletcher, his is Fleischer not Fletcher.

[@caulkins69]

It's not the AI's fault. She keeps mispronouncing his name that way.

[@Bad_Housekeeping]

​@@caulkins69 Actually, if the A were really I it would understand the subject and check the correctness and spelling, but the A is not actually I

[@magicjohnson2235]

JESSICA VILL, YOU SAID THAT YOU FELT BEAUTIFUL PLAYING OR DRESSING UP LIKE BETTY BOOP. LET ME JUST TELL YOU THIS YOUNG LADY, I JUST FOUND YOUR CHANNEL / PODCAST LAT NIGHT. YOU ARE A VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN…………NEVER EVER FORGET THAT. I AM A FAN OF ALL OF YOUR FIRST 3 SUBJECTS.( MARILYN MONROE, BETTY BOOP, AND MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE MALE SINGER OF ALL-TIME THE KING OF POP, MICHAEL JACKSON. YOU DID A BANG-UP JOB ON ALL 3 SUBJECTS. I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU. CONTINUE YOUR GREAT WORK MY DEAR. YOU HAVE A NEW FAN IN ME AND FATHER GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER. MAGIC. ( P.S. JESSICA, I AM NOT A CRAZY MAN OR ANYTHING. I WAS BORN WITH SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY AND CAN’T WALK AT ALL. MY RIGHT EYE IS WEAKER THAN MY LEFT, SO WHEN I READ OR TYPE I HAVE TO USE CAPITAL LETTERS TO SEE CLEARLY ). KEEP SMILING AND WORKING HARD JESSICA VILL, YOU’RE DOING GREAT.

[@jessicavill]

Thank you 🥹🖤

[@visionaryventures12]

I want to imagine what Betty Boop would look like in 1980s attire.

[@Justaliljellybean]

Yea, know... at the beginning of this video, I was kind of irritated. Mostly because I was looking at the comments while watching, and also because I get sick of people only caring about racial accuracy when it comes to black people. However, by the end, I really enjoyed hearing about where Ester Jones came to play, and it was interesting to find out the almost got sued for coping Helan Kane. Great video. Just hurts to be lead on thinking she was black for clicks, though.

[@superman9772]

the way i heard (from my mom who was a little girl back then) betty boop was a poodle that magically turned into a girl that looked like clara bow ( the "it girl" ) and sang like the singer helen kaye (who sang "i wanna be loved by you" back in the 20s ) ... and as the cartoons got more successful then betty became more sexual ... as

[@rustyrobinson8027]

Notification on 👍🇺🇸

[@mina_loi]

okay i thought i was suffering madela effect bc i clearly remember seeing the early betty boop episodes of her being a dog

[@338holly]

It's OK. To me, she's Black the same way Piccolo is Black. We claim her.

[@Miss_Kisa94]

Wait....are we talking about the green alien from DBZ or a different piccolo?

[@serenitymoon825]

​​@@Miss_Kisa94 we are absolutely talking about the green alien from DBZ, that man is black

[@Miss_Kisa94]

@@serenitymoon825 😂 that's great lol

[@Music71194]

You beautiful queen and you're right Betty Boop is not whitewash

[@calliegirl-d5x]

Can we pleasseee get an apartment tour? It looks SO cute!

[@ripxdoc]

yay love to see new video!!

[@hartfordhouse6997]

Cool show. Hope for many more episodes. I even like the watermark I think part of the beauty of cosplay is that it knows no genders or races. Anybody should be able to cosplay any character. It is the passion of the performer that makes it "good" or not.

[@johnpjones182]

So Betty was actually Human-Washed!

[@brianboye8025]

Betty Boop cartoons, especially the jazz themed ones, are filled with black characters and a host of others that include ghosts, devils, monsters, cannibals and whatnot. Maybe I'm mixing cartoons though.

[@_diet_coke]

Oh good gracious. Shame on PBS.

[@HOKUINHI]

So why wouldn’t PBS say she was originally Hawaiian? It’s so discusting there seems to be a divide that if you’re not white or black, what are you? You clearly are the intent by PBS to create this division. Anyone would have said Hawaiian or white & tanned. 😂. So sad this even happened & people & who love to cosplay gotta deal with this. Thank you for doing your research & not being afraid to state the truth so we all learn & be reminded there is truth to history not feeling & interpretations. Much love & aloha from this Native Hawaiian, Chinese, Korean,Swedish and Scottish woman, mother, grandmother & common sense thinker. lol.

[@Purple_911]

Betty Boop was depicted as Samoan for one episode of popeye. . Not Hawaiian.

[@ambersummer2685]

From what I’ve heard she was inspired by a mix of white and black women. Not saying she’s mixed but that the inspiration wasn’t solely black women.

[@Purple_911]

Nope. Just Helen kane.

[@chozolady]

BRO i just watched the Michealone and didn’t notice, is that a bust of Diana the goddess of the hunt behind you?? bless be beautiful moon goddess 🫶🏼

[@jessicavill]

Yes it is 🥰🖤

[@Revolutionary_War443ī]

I thought Betty boop was a dog in the older episodes

[@Purple_911]

I never had it wrong.

[@DoorsToHideBehind156]

I'm honestly so glad I found you on this channel vs your jbunzie channel. I had no idea you were so popular and big on KZbin honestly but watching your jbunzie videos makes me feel kinda icky cuz it's so..... Not you....even your voice is upidy and super fake. I can tell with this channel you are being your actual self and I love it so much more than your jbunzie character. And I do call it a character because it's very clear you were playing someone else for views. I'm not the only person who thought these seemed like two completely different people.

[@jessicavill]

LOL!!! I was actually just much younger on the Jbunzie channel. (19) and now I’m 29 so that’s a big reason why too 🤣🖤

[@Sunshine-dq5lo]

Why are the other 2 videos hidden in the podcast playlist?

[@johnarnehansen9574]

I wonder why they didn't make That PBS Documentary a KZbin-Poop!..

[@Zathena]

After i saw pictures of helen kane and ester, and heard helen kane and watched betty boop, i was like.. uhhh

[@Miss_Kisa94]

There are no pictures of Esther as an adult though. Nobody knows what happened to her after she retired.

[@656rntndj]

The actual PBS article is copied below for reference. It was just a three-paragraph feature in a Black History Month "listicle" within a list of 10 pop culture facts. This video unfairly attacks the legitimacy of PBS over something that the internet blew out of proportion. Nothing in PBS' article is incorrect, according to this video. What was incorrect in their article was the "photo" of Esther Jones that was used, which was removed from the page. An excerpt from the PBS original publishing: "Esther Jones Was the Real Betty Boop! The iconic cartoon character Betty Boop was inspired by a Black jazz singer in Harlem. Introduced by cartoonist Max Fleischer in 1930, the caricature of the jazz age flapper was the first and most famous sex symbol in animation. Betty Boop is best known for her revealing dress, curvaceous figure, and signature vocals “Boop Oop A Doop!” While there has been controversy over the years, the inspiration has been traced back to Esther Jones who was known as “Baby Esther” and performed regularly in the Cotton Club during the 1920s. Baby Esther’s trademark vocal style of using “boops” and other childlike scat sounds attracted the attention of actress Helen Kane during a performance in the late 1920s. After seeing Baby Esther, Helen Kane adopted her style and began using “boops” in her songs as well. Finding fame early on, Helen Kane often included this “baby style” into her music. When Betty Boop was introduced, Kane promptly sued Fleischer and Paramount Publix Corporation stating they were using her image and style. However video evidence came to light of Baby Esther performing in a nightclub and the courts ruled against Helen Kane stating she did not have exclusive rights to the “booping” style or image, and that the style, in fact, pre-dated her. Baby Esther’s “baby style” did little to bring her mainstream fame and she died in relative obscurity but a piece of her lives on in the iconic character Betty Boop. "

[@jessicavill]

This is the newly edited version actually. They have since removed the original publication and apologized to the studio for spreading the misinformation.

[@billybrown7953]

LOL 😂, PBS is a leftist news agency that is supported by tax dollars.

[@buffed16]

Does anyone have audio or video where PBS admits to lying about Betty Boop???

[@jessicavill]

It’s in the video: the article. Here’s also the link to validate: www.pbs.org/publiceditor/blogs/pbs-public-editor/betty-oops/

[@lareineii]

❤ Boop

[@paque1442]

I heard Helen Kane originally copied Esther Jones' style and work therefore Betty Boop was based off the knockoff version of Esther Jones.

[@aspookyspookynight]

Source?

[@Miss_Kisa94]

Esther was literally a child at the height of her career. No adult would have been copying her. Esther retired and left show business before she was even a teenager.

[@BozeDoesGodsWork]

Actually a lot of people copied her. Including Dinah Washington and other adult female entertainers. Helen was inspired by Baby Esther and that’s ok. Where she messed up at is stealing her entire persona and not thanking her or reaching out to her. At the time black artist didn’t have a lot of exposure that the white artist did. So some of them would watch the black entertainers and steal what they saw and introduce it to the world as their own. Elvis Presley always listed his sources which is why I respect him. Helen blatantly lied and them people pulled up receipts and exposed her. The women was a knockoff I don’t see anything wrong with what the original commenter said.

[@arenjtumastens]

❤❤👋👋👋👋

[@AutoFirePad]

There was no need for that "kawaii". Now you must do an "onichan"/"ara ara". XD

[@aspookyspookynight]

Doesn't onichan mean brother tho? Kawaii means cute

[@AutoFirePad]

@@aspookyspookynight It is common in the kawaii girls world to say uwu, onichan and araara. kzbin.info/www/bejne/amOUe3uujbJ5arc

[@NokBinHongAn]

"You can't cosplay a black character"....but blacks can cosplay ariel, tinker bell or Frozen Elsa.............make it make sense.

[@hello15848]

A wear white hair styles.

[@K.YouTube2]

"Blacks"?

[@vickyslays1450]

@@hello15848no such thing as white hairstyles

[@hello15848]

@@vickyslays1450 um yes there is

[@vickyslays1450]

Because ariel, tinker bell, & elsa dont have culture tied to them, & its not that you cant cosplay a character, its just not wearing black face, i dont understand why yall get mad that we are offended by black face, despite history? yall compare apples to oranges all the time, anytime we talk abt something being culturally significant (which doesnt implicate ownership, obviously anyone can wear or do what they want, but people saying something is their culture, doesnt mean they own it, or they are the only ones allowed to do it, but clearly people just parrot what they heard on the internet, or from some old head, as opposed to taking the time to learn what culture is, so ofc thats the interpretation) or offensive, yall want to hit the uno reverse card & dont even know what yall are talking abt,”racism is dead” not when people cant respect other people. Yeah, youre free to do what you want, but dont get mad when your @$$ gets dragged for doing something offensive

[@ryandior3923]

Betty bop is of a darker complexion and they didn’t like that and she became lighter and created stories to cover it up she was in between she just a medium complexion no black or white no race she is beautiful

[@jessicavill]

Umm. Please watch the podcast, I promise I know what I’m talking about and provided evidence that was published during the height of the drama so it’s not edited or altered haha

[@billybrown7953]

She's WHITE , deal with it. 😂

[@bruceanderson5525]

Well everybody knows that Prince was white.