YOUTHFORIA Finally Addresses Their Racist Foundation... And It's BAD

[@RobertWelsh]

If you enjoy this style video you might like my reaction/commentary/talking about stuff channel, or you might hate it who knows! 🖤 - youtube.com/@robert_reacts?si=8NgBYRfKEZy23_uc

[@SquintyBubbles]

Oh hell yeah I love a good rant, especially at the expense of utterly tone deaf idiots. Presumably nobody will apply for the job apart from a few of the chosen ones who could wear the OG shades. /s

[@LeBronIsgLoat]

❤❤❤😊

[@tressssah]

If you don’t have my shade in makeup, fine, I will spend my money with the countless companies who do but don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining by putting black paint in a bottle and tell me…”here you go, now hush!”

[@blainegarcia2503]

That part!☝️☝️☝️

[@manaash4316]

THIS

[@Tasha06ful]

This 🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@batmanrobin2011]

It was so CLEAR they put out that face paint as a shut up shade. It’s so disgusting when we have so many high end brands that have amazing shade ranges. I can’t wrap my head around a company excluding a group of consumers.

[@didralamond8145]

Yep!

[@selkieofthesea2664]

"Bullying a brand" BRANDS AREN'T PEOPLE!

[@please_im_a_staaar]

Exactly! What we're bullying a company that wants nothing but money from us and most of which violate workers' rights behind closed doors? Oh, no! How dare we bully capitalists 😢

[@AlleineDragonfyre]

Right? This company is probably an LLC. Even if this destroys their biz, they get out with very little loss except initial investment. These little boutique brands smack of independent weath too. It's not like the business concept is groundbreaking and has investors knocking down the door.

[@tea4nihilists]

that job listing might as well be titled "Future Scapegoat" lol

[@ZijnShayatanica]

Biiiiiigtime!! Someone called the role a "glass cliff" - being set up to fail from the get-go so the brand can avoid taking the blame upon themselves as a whole.

[@bellememorie]

Yep, that way they can put any blame for future disasters on that person. They are so gross.

[@dafrastar]

Yeah anyone applying to this better get paid one million lol cuz they ain't going to be there long

[@BrandiMattison]

Or “Token person of color”. I won’t buy Youthforia products. Ever. I’m a white girl who has noticed their shade range has a zillion shades of pale white. It’s horrendous.

[@posthedonist2695]

I was hoping someone would point this out, they're like "lets hire an underpaid POC to blame!"

[@LillyianPuppy]

Meanwhile, the Korean company, Tirtir, realized PoC were interested in their product, and they exploded their shade range in a matter of months.

[@alexia3552]

I hope they can go viral for a good reason!

[@Cashhhhew]

Which is honestly a big step for a Korean brand on its own.

[@Afhkklkdsd]

East Asians are also poc and use tirtir but I get what you mean. Darker skin poc. Tanner skin poc. That's the first for a korean brand that isn't owned by someone with dark skin. Dior, chanel, etc still only have at most 7 shaded for their cushions.

[@carriefish]

THIS

[@lolobee313]

The head of Youthforia is also a poc. But she is fair skinned and apparently doesn't know any black folks or people with darker skin.

[@KairoK]

They're hiring a scapegoat

[@linseylinsey]

🎯

[@thegoodkindofweirdo]

Exactly. And they'll more likely hire a person of color for this. Hate crime after hate crime... 🤦

[@candyce6233]

Exactly!!

[@mochs62512]

"They are trying to make me an escape goat"- Michael Scott

[@Crow_Smith]

I posted before seeing this and said "Oh lord they're bringing back the "Professional Scapegoat" role"

[@justinburcham1848]

"Not all brands have to cater to all skin tones" but you best believe if a brand came out that excluded white skin tones those same people saying that would be having a field day hollering about racism against white people

[@4amlibra]

THIS!! 👏🏻

[@amaanisoetan]

It's happening now!! Fenty skin came out with a tinted mineral sunscreen that leans towards the darker side of the spectrum and white people starting screaming about all the shades being too dark without even considering that people that light have no need for a tinted mineral sunscreen

[@miketyson_420]

some of them for sure, but I’m so damn white I also have a hard time finding shades that match me (like Irish white.) the main issue for me is the false inclusivity- don’t half a** a product so you can claim inclusivity. if you care, then actually care by creating the right tones and shades, not just throwing black paint in a bottle and calling it foundation. there are some people who are very very dark, like I’m very very light, but it’s just not the majority of the market so why is that the starting point? it comes across as all black people are that black in their mind, not a good look if you’re trying to virtue signal

[@adeponol]

​@@miketyson_420funnily enough, they couldn't even find anyone who could wear the foundation because it was straight up black. No human being in the world is solid black lmao. Like there is no one the colour of black paint

[@joelyssoapbox7470]

​@miketyson_420 I have the same problem but I have a bottle which is so close to white but still has undertones, I use this to mix with any other shade and the result is usually fine. This black face paint doesnt even provide that option.

[@tea4nihilists]

They're pretty consistent. Their response to black customers calling out their limited shade range was "FINE, here's some black paint, whatever." Their response to the backlash for that is "FINE, one of *YOU* take care of it then!" 😂😂

[@sylmaerie]

THIS PARTTTTT they’re literally allergic to taking responsibility and doing the thing RIGHT

[@paige-vt8fn]

Same thing I thought too. They're just looking to hire someone, pay them crap (probably) so they have someone specific to blame. SMH 🙄😒

[@Rocknrolla25133]

Exactly that.

[@t_ylr]

It's so wild no one asked them make this terrible range lol. Like we're asking too much just for them to do their job haha.Honestly if you're a small makeup company in Japan or Nigeria where 90% of ppl fall in a small range I don't expect full Fenty shades lol, but if you're making producers for North America, South America, Europe, Asia then yes, you need the full spectrum!

[@tea4nihilists]

@@t_ylr all of that + they marketed themselves as inclusive. they wanted the stamp of inclusivity without doing the work of making the product inclusive. 🙄

[@willowashe]

“As we continue to drive change” is giving yourself a pretty big pat on the for blackface-in-a-bottle.

[@Rose_Castle]

Right? My eyes rolled back. What change? Girl, where is the change?!

[@janetshepherd7872]

@@Rose_Castle Right? Like, is the change in the room with us? 😂

[@KBlo21]

I love that KZbin pays Robert to gossip educationally with his friends 😂

[@RobertWelsh]

Thank you for joining me 🥹🖤🖤

[@BeauOnTheGo_DC]

“Gossip educationally” - Absolutely stealing this. Wonderful term!!

[@Luna-Joy.]

ME TOO!!!!🩷🩷 I was hoping he would make another video on this bullshit follow up from the idiot founder. 😂

[@standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory]

To be fair, we pay for products that advertise, that’s who pays, so at least we get a few wonderful people like the twins in amongst the effluvium…

[@tahneegilbert8682]

He's so calming it's like therapy at this point!😂

[@amberd5318]

So, when the position isn't filled because they're problematic and that'sA LOT of work for one person, they can wash their hands and gaslight people saying, "hey, we tried" 🙄

[@lafleurdhiver]

This was my comment when I read the ad. Maybe they do want a fall guy, but the fact that they're listing responsibilities that are handled by multiple groups makes me think that they don't really intend or expect to hire someone.

[@petthequeenofmaddness8592]

@@lafleurdhiver na, they get benefits for stuff if they hire people of color or if the person is disabled stuff like that looks good, it's also why they have stuff for woman in fields like welding it's for show

[@yagirlrachel]

Sadly, the job market is so bad right now it probably will get filled 😔

[@carrela1000]

​@@petthequeenofmaddness8592 You really think hiring any person of colour will look good for this brand now? Really? Also, welding is a skill that anyone can learn regardless of gender, you're not that dumb.

[@darkstar940able]

The stuff they listed sounds like work for a whole team not just 1 person

[@darkstar940able]

Just hit the part of the video where someone is saying what I just said 😂

[@LM-uc5sg]

I came to comment the exact same thing!

[@annasialillathine]

I really think this is just the owners whining about how hard their job is. They arent actually hiring for this theres no way someone with the qualifications they want will apply for this.

[@LexiGoLightly]

That comment about "the allure of some brands is because they AREN'T accessible to everyone" is legit as gross as this entire debacle. They should be ashamed of themselves right along with this brand I will now NEVER purchase anything from.

[@adafihj6439]

After hearing that statement, all I have to say is: Alexa, Play Jojo's too little too late

[@elizabethnino3977]

🤣🤣 WHY DID I THINK THE SAME THING!?

[@lucyfer6g6]

Damn...forgot about that song... Playing now lol

[@iammango08]

different song but to quote Jojo … ‘you were just a waste of time’ 😂

[@jasmineloves2144]

​@@iammango08 lol the song leave(get out)

[@MikaMonster92]

Nooo not jojo I forgot about her! Now it's gonna be stuck in my headdddd

[@Wickedkittin]

I bet the people banging on about brands not having to cater to everyone and every skin tone have NEVER had trouble finding shades or products to suit their skin tone.

[@tnnovation]

They also tend to have the easiest time finding their shades in Black-owned brands, because of how inclusive their ranges tend to be

[@failedhedonist]

Just looked at their website and IT'S STILL FOR SALE ON THERE! Racist, disgusting, shameful.

[@Crow_Smith]

Best thing they could've done if they didn't take it down, is make the fake color they used in all the fake swatches. [Or some of them if the swatches were different]. And then if they still refused to apologize just be like "We fixed the formula, our bad." ... because literally all that would look better than their continued "GFY" attitude .... [and no I don't think that what I said would be the best call but it'd be better than this stupidity. Granted they should fix that color to fit their fake swatches instead of leaving it as black paint, like wtf.]

[@marinara5000]

Rage baiting and it works. Idiots buying it to prove a point... FAIL.

[@zurimarley3067]

truth is its probably one of their best sellers because every influencer went to buy it to test it and get views -- influencers of all races -- make it right but, influencers feed it because its literally sold out in certain stores because people want to make content with it for views

[@LunarEleven]

This business is going to be destroyed by pride, I really cannot believe they won't admit they screwed up and fix it. Wild.

[@LunarEleven]

​@@zurimarley3067In today's world where attention matters more than respect or basic decency I'm afraid of people using the continued existence of this product as an excuse to do black face videos. They know they'll get tons of views and they don't care how it hurts people, and then they can shove the responsibility on the product for existing.

[@koolmoedeesimpson3905]

Merriam Webster should put a photo of the Youthforia CEO next to their definition of malicious compliance.

[@melissaselenebeauty]

Wow. They didn't accept responsibility for anything or apologize for anything. Gross.

[@bapsbaby6441]

On the inclusivity topic, the main problem with the argument against it is especially in makeup is that without the inclusivity argument, a ton of brands would only cater to lighter shades or based around the beauty standards. If we didn’t fight for inclusivity there would be so little access to things for people who don’t fight into the medias idea of beauty. I know all companies might not understand how to be inclusive or just don’t want to but it is good to push companies to be more aware

[@amiam8116]

Agreed 100%

[@MartinaKing225]

Exactly. If we don't make the noise, there will only be light shades available.

[@nightgoddess9]

Exactly. The person who was like “not all brands need to cater to everyone.” Oh great coming from the person who probably is able to find a serviceable foundation color match in every brand. It’s easy to say representation isn’t important when you’re represented everywhere. Like a person who eats 3 square meals a day telling someone who is lucky to get one, “it’s just food.” I also was thinking about how insulting it is that some people truly see no intrinsic value in diversity. They see a room full of mixed races, genders, whatever and say “no one would want to be in that room-unless they were trying to profit off it.” Which is why they love to throw the idea of tokenism around anytime a POC person is at the forefront of anything. In this case tho, this is actually tokenism and its digusting

[@mayanaw.9027]

@@nightgoddess9 Exactly. The kicker is that when they think they aren't represented, they raise hell. If any of the brands they regularly used did launch with products that were created to flatter darker skin tones and only included dark skin models they'd flip tables. It's only fine as long as they're the person being catered to.

[@zillailluhr]

idk why this is so hard to understand or accept???? Like a product in my shade is asking someone to donate a kidney or something.

[@fionamoorcroft7]

Can you imagine being a POC in their workplace? Can you imagine the interview??? They needed to have made a true apology, taken accountability and hire more than one person. This needs to be a team, not an individual.

[@tnnovation]

The founder herself is a WOC, which is especially disappointing.

[@lawyernyc01]

You mean a Black person?

[@kezzykizzy5386]

​@@tnnovationthat's why the term is being phased out. It's not nuanced enough and black people usually still end up at the bottom if counted at all

[@LP-ct9nk]

A lot of Asian people of a certain generation align themselves with white people/eurocentric ideals. I am not at all surprised black people is an afterthought to the CEO’s brand, because that’s how a lot of that gen treats black peoples irl

[@PumpkinJuice69]

@@tnnovationYeah the term isn't even inclusive enough anymore. POC can mean anything nowadays. A Canadian of French and Hispanic/ Spanish descent can be considered poc, even though they'd be considered White by census standards.

[@kerri-annereyes8696]

Firstly Robert, your hair looks amazing this way. Secondly, I’m an agile project manager here in Sydney, Australia and when you were reading that role, my heart dropped. That role, based off what you showed, could be 4x director level roles.. It is like trying to find a unicorn, I’ve capitalised the qualifications. Someone with a BEAUTY SCIENCE BACKGROUND to understand formulation, with the time to travel, with an ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING BACKGROUND, and the ability to PROJECT MANAGE multi million dollar timelines, with PRODUCT MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE within beauty, whilst being a STRATEGY FOCUSSED individual. We have directors for each of those categories with seperate teams under each, because that is a mammoth! It’s impossible to do, it’s huge labour for an identified individual which is even worse!

[@LM-uc5sg]

10000% agreed on this. That job description is actually insane.. They’re trying to find someone they can underpay and under-title. That should absolutely be a team of directors.

[@becbrown212]

'Must be experienced at jumping underneath buses...'

[@janetshepherd7872]

The only person I can think of who could even approach this role is Alexis from the Lipstick Lesbians, but anyone would be crazy to take on this job. Like you said, this is work for at least 3-4 people. 🤯

[@Hermititis]

​@@becbrown212, nice! 😂 Though technically, it's less "jumping" and more "being pushed/thrown", but your phrasing is funnier.

[@MeeplandHeights]

Damn, you know it's crazy if someone using the agile workflow calls it a crazy job description lol

[@claireharrison3234]

They either got a lawyer to draft that statement or did it themselves. Nobody in PR came within a mile of this. Horrendous.

[@SohelaKaur]

I don’t think a lawyer drafted that either. I’m guessing they drafted it themselves.

[@kateyarbrough8992]

They wrote it in their notes app and copy pasted it

[@merahmapple4602]

I don’t think a lawyer drafted that statement. I work in a law firm and wrote countless notices & letters & that one definitely came from their marketing/sales team

[@nm8925]

@@merahmapple4602a marketing/sales team would never make such a statement that hurts the business even more

[@leoniesableblanc]

Hey don’t blame us lawyers. We aren’t that bad draftsmen!

[@sarag001]

People with skin like mine not giving two shits about the lack of inclusion is not shocking, sadly. It's disgusting to hear people defend a company that released essentially Minstrel Black as a 'foundation' and still won't apologize or take ownership over that or fix the issue.

[@strippermilk360]

thats what im saying, the dehumanization is crazy

[@ScizzoringGirlz]

But why have i actually seen darkskin women have that shade?

[@jephasiaweeaboo7639]

@@ScizzoringGirlzyou’re lying . No black person has a gray under tone. No human even had black eyes or hair but a human can be that black. Just say you’re uneducated and move on

[@sarag001]

​​@@ScizzoringGirlzYou haven't. The shade that everyone is talking about was Number 600, a solid black with no undertone, which literally EVERY skin tone has. Shade 600 isn't even available on their website now. The darkest shade available is now 590 described as Deep Neutral with cool undertones. Literally no human skin tone is shade 600 because it had no undertones, just as no human skin tone would be white like white paint, since it also has no undertone. Every model showing the foundation was a custom shade and did not use shade 600.

[@ketameanii]

@@ScizzoringGirlzno you haven’t

[@ameliajordan29]

The job description sounds like a nightmare. Are they doing any of those tasks now!? It’s a disaster.

[@marypezzulo5059]

especially when your CEO seems really arrogant and unwilling to understand in the first place-- if that's the CEO who appeared in the "apology" video.

[@AldiSox]

Unless they are giving that TPM a significant chunk of equity. If not, it's gross like the statements.

[@justkiddin84]

@@AldiSox idk if I would want that-if this is how they run the company, it will fail.

[@AldiSox]

@@justkiddin84 I guess I'm saying it looks like they know they need someone else to run things. Saying they Can't would be better than showing that they just won't do the work. At least they'd be honest. You are right....red flag Co to be sure.

[@gasparinha]

At first I thought it was a executive position, supervising product development, marketing, DEI, etc. - but I guess not? Even if it pays huge - and assuming there are people that actually excel at all these skill types (right...) - there aren't enough hours in the day.

[@lisa-maried8733]

No make up , hair not done , u still look amazing Robert 🙌🏼

[@RobertWelsh]

Thank you 🥲🖤🖤

[@MouseAPowers-ql3nv]

Robert is absolutely, positively gorgeous with or without makeup.

[@royalovernight]

TBH, I didn't even realize he wasn't wearing makeup until I read your comment.

[@adrienne12345678]

💯

[@clooneytune_]

I thought the same thing, I was a little taken aback (in a good way) when the vid first started and I couldn't work out why... Then the explanation about the hair and makeup came and I was like ohhhhhhhh!!! Your natural look is 👌, Mr Robert 😍💜

[@AKbaby89]

That job listing reminds me of when i worked for the state of Alaska, and im a people pleaser who kept accepting everything they put on my plate, so when i left, they couldnt find anyone who could do what i did (i also wrote my own training handbook for my position since they added so much after i was hired), so they had to split my position into 3 different positions at 2 different pay scales. One of my supervisors actually reached out to me like a year after i left, and she told me about how nobody realized how much i did until they couldn't keep anyone in the position. The only difference is, this job listing sounds more like 4-5 different positions. Theyre expecting one human to do 20 different jobs, it just proves to me how bad the youthforia owner/team is. Theyre just incredibly naive and ignorant, and they dont seem to be able to take any accountability or see their wrongdoings. Id be shocked if the brand lasted 2 more years

[@Soulcrash3]

My mom had a similar issue when she was young, she had a very high accounting position and once she left they had to replace her with three people two for one side of her role and one managing the other, which ended up committing big time insurance fraud. it was in the 90's and they were very demeaning to her because she was a young woman in a high position, but the fact that they failed to replace her even with three whole other humans and got fucked in the process just goes to show that companies don't care enough to know which are the good employees and usually they are the ones being mistreated the hardest. And I would agree they want 4-5 positions some of which should be held by several people because it is an international company with several markets so it sounds legitimately insane.

[@mayamoon9207]

The whole "to meet your needs" part sounds to me like they're saying "We're doing this because you told us to" instead of "We're doing this because we want to do better". They're just digging themselves into a deeper hole with everything they do surrounding this whole thing

[@DeeLite220]

HOW do they not already have a director of product development???!!! This just makes me think they’re slapping a label on prepackaged crap already made overseas like the cheap makeup you buy on Amazon.

[@MichelleMalega]

They have shown us who they are over and over again, so let’s believe them! They are clearly not making inclusivity a priority.

[@MichelleMalega]

As a woman of color this is so disappointing. I remember when MAC was the only makeup brand that I could wear in terms of foundations. Thought experiment for those who don’t think it’s a big deal to have a diverse shade range in foundation…imagine that the makeup brand only made deeper shades and like 2or 3 lighter ones. When the company is called on it, they come out with a white foundation that makes you feel like you need a big red clown nose to wear it. This company is totally tone deff !

[@manaash4316]

The company isn't even tone deaf. They're actively malicious and it's amazing that they think anyone would fall for their nonsense.

[@SewardWriter]

​@@MichelleMalegaDifference is, some people would genuinely wear the white base.

[@petthequeenofmaddness8592]

@@MichelleMalega I'm really pail, but ya it's like charcoal black they used so it sucks all around as you can't even mix it to get a better tone the only thing it might be good for is cosplay or Halloween or other costume event

[@DoveAlexa]

@@SewardWriter I fall outside the lower end of the shade range on most make up brands and I sure as hell wouldn't.

[@TORTANK_8]

Lol Robert is NOT having it with some of these YouthForia excuses and I am HERE FOR IT

[@cosmicinfinity6406]

This doesn’t sound like they have worked with a PR company and they truly have to consider these issues as a beauty company. It is going to take real change and lots of work to rebuild their brand image. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and point of view.

[@RobertWelsh]

I totally agree!

[@honeybee347]

When I found out the founder that went on shark tank and replied on social media had a background in tech and their initial makeup products were for sleeping in, I was getting elizabeth Holmes but with lip gloss.

[@Nocturnal_Alien]

At this point, I doubt even the best PR companies will be able to save them now 😂 they just don't care about their customers, people in general or their general views on what inclusivity is.

[@glitteringmaze]

⁠@@honeybee347😭😭😭 Not Elizabeth Holmes with lip gloss!

[@jodiegordon5559]

@@glitteringmaze Who's Elizabeth Holmes and what colour lip gloss?

[@ashleyayutube]

It's even more sus that they didn't put a pay range for their Director job. 👀

[@laur83]

i was happy to see that nobody was letting this slide. all the IG and reddit comments i saw on this recent post were dragging them to filth. i’m an understanding person but they are now CANCELLED.

[@isabellamorris7902]

Tbh "cancelled" isn't even the word to use imo. They made a fucking stupid business decision, insulted a whole bunch of their customers, and people have decided they're gonna shop elsewhere. This is totally normal and has happened since forever. A lot of people go "ohhh everyone is cancelling everyone now!!!!" like this is in any way a new phenomenon. Nah, this goes back to the world's first law: FAFO.

[@AliceHunter-0827]

@@isabellamorris7902, right? Youthforia has made itself irrelevant. It paid zero respect to its customer base with that ridiculous "shade" (I don't even like calling it that, since it really is black face paint.) I'm not Black, but I am not going to buy from a company that treats its customer base as though it is full of stupid people. No thank you. There are plenty of brands out to choose from.

[@betsybabf748]

People can't be cancelled. Only juveniles say or think that. Only a small sector of usually the very young population spend their time making nasty internet comments or bashing anyone online. Majority of the adult population never behave that way so IG and Reddit are never a good overall picture of reality.

[@jodiegordon5559]

@@betsybabf748 Brands can be tho, we just called it discontinued back in the day?!

[@drjuliansass]

To give some insight into the business aspect of it, as someone who's worked in beauty PD for a while, this is ABSOLUTELY not the job for one person. Most of it is normal for a PD role but the whole DEI aspect of it is either integrated into the brands identity and doesn't need to be called out (obviously not the case) or should be a completely separate person's job for the entire brand. This is absolutely insane.

[@stillnotstill]

Thank you for sharing that

[@alexisk8888]

So they put out a help wanted ad instead of an apology or even an acknowledgment of what the did? Embarrassing.

[@mynameistaken99]

The whole "brands don't have to accomdate everyone" is really gross when you realize it's only the darker skin tones they don't accommodate. They don't actually mean "everyone" they really just mean "brands don't have to accommodate Black and darker skinned people." I've never seen a brand exclude light skin. It's racism, pure and simple.

[@girrl88]

Well said!

[@Dontputyourblameonme]

I think you're into something. But I have seen lots of "white people" brands to exclude fair and very fair skinned people. So if they can't even provide shades for people that are in the group they target, then why would they go even deeper and make shades for a completely new group of customers? I guess we, very fair and dark skinned people are just too "demanding" and "niche" for the brands to take an actual interested in us.

[@gerilyn]

@@DontputyourblameonmeLiterally, because there’s no reason I should have had to learn to mix my own foundation with a white cosmetic mixer at 13 years old because before that I just couldn’t wear makeup. That and only getting eyeshadows in my contour colour instead of real contour products. It’s really not hard to extend the line or at least make accessible options to mix colours.

[@kelsyervin9039]

6:32 This position seems like a “glass cliff” role- impossible expectations to save the company’s reputation. The person in this role is set up to fail. If they can’t save Youthforia’s image, YF can blame the failure of their DEI initiatives on the person and continue not to take accountability.

[@linseylinsey]

I came to comment something similar! I didn't know there was a term for that, thank you! They're absolutely setting this person up for failure. Who is a DEI expert AND also a branding, packaging, formulation, project management, etc. expert?! The description was several jobs in one. If they're just considering inclusion and diversity in 2024, I hope this company has the outcome it deserves.

[@a.r.mproductions5616]

The fall guy for sure

[@hades_town]

plus how much do you wanna bet they're going to pick a black woman for this role and put all that on her

[@kelsyervin9039]

@@hades_town 💯💯💯

[@xamyx725]

@@linseylinseyI’m quite certain this is just a first step in developing an entire team…

[@Aimztastic]

I really love how people will defend segregation and racism to their last breath. A brand that promises to be inclusive should deliver on the promise, ethically and properly. They’ve outed their true company values of racism. They said black people = black face paint (the same logic as blackface) and then DOUBLED DOWN. I actually don’t care when brands aren’t inclusive, I’m used to not being able to find my shade. But don’t say you’ll be inclusive, make a shade for no one and then lie and double down. They think we’re dumb, they think we’re less than, they think we’re not human.

[@theonetruesarauniya]

Thank you!

[@KimZabiegalski-t4x]

What kind of cosmetic company ( big enough to be in Ulta) did not have this position in place already? As a director of operations for a sizable museum store, I am shocked that they have just created this position?

[@clooneytune_]

Agreed... I was listening to those requirements like 'how did y'all even get to any kind of launch state without someone in this position??'

[@dogwalker97]

I am not defending the company at all. Your post however made me curious. Per LinkedIn, the company has 10 employees.

[@uninvincibleete]

There's absolutely no way a single person can do everything listed in that job. It seems more like they just want someone else to blame the next time they (intentionally) mess up.

[@riahru1160]

6:40 not them trying to put all of the responsibility on the consumer instead of themselves by being like: oh you don’t like it? Be an employee than. Like.. what the actual heck?

[@ZijnShayatanica]

EXACTLY. THIS IS EXACTLY HOW IT MADE ME FEEL.

[@sparkle1596]

yes! YOU fix our responsibility issues because we can't be bothered. wow wow wow.

[@sonnydial4500]

LIKE?!?! A person who buys YOUR PRODUCT and sees an issue with has a right to complain wth-

[@LeadrynMcKrotch]

Yeah I also felt it was weird they directed people to the careers page not their business motto page (usually has what the business is about, backstory about the business and founders) that's usually not the same as the page you apply on. That usually only describes what they are like to work for which is not the same thing

[@sparkle1596]

@@LeadrynMcKrotch yeah and just getting more clicks on their website. oof

[@3s_muycar0]

The fact there are folks that are trying to give the owner grace. Nooooo, this was a grown woman running a business that haughtily claimed to be comparable to Fenty and Mac with their shade range. Even if you don’t fall in the dark/deep range, there is no way you should be defending a face paint that lacks undertones, it can’t be used by real melanated ppl‼️

[@zaraamir9165]

I can understand the concept that Korean brands operating in only South Korea don't need to cater to all shade ranges. But not when they're expanding to an international market. If your argument is people shouldn't cater to a skin tone that isn't dominant where they're selling, that falls flat when you're selling in the Western world.

[@RobertWelsh]

This is why I appreciate brands like tirtir are making a great effort to expand their shade range quickly AND effectively as they grow in the western world.

[@ilz_y]

It’s important to note though that there are people with darker skin tones in Korea. I live here and there’s a pretty substantial SEAsian community who have darker skin, as well as a growing Black community. Even so, the foundations don’t even cover the skin tones of many ethnic Koreans. It’s not true that Koreans all have pale skin, especially in rural areas, it’s just that paleness is associated with beauty and wealth. Colourism is a real issue here in Korea and the beauty industry perpetuates it.

[@MsAaprill]

Well the Western World is not just the US, here in Europe we do not have a larger group of „African Americans“.

[@cutesyjam]

​@MsAaprill The UK, France, Germany have all sizable black populations and people from South Asia who have darker skin. Maybe not in Eastern Europe but in Western Europe there are many.

[@MsAaprill]

@@cutesyjam I live in one of the countries you mentioned in a very international city and I see very few people of color here.

[@palasiksivain]

we're bullying BRANDS NOW????? the complete disregard to what that word actually means is driving me insane, particularly in the beauty community and influencer spaces. you can't bully A BRAND, it's literally impossible 😭😭

[@kimschiller1364]

Companies want to be people when it works for them, but fall back on capitalism and the bottom line when it doesn't smh

[@gasparinha]

​@@kimschiller1364Ugh, this is the root of so many problems! (Particularly in the US...)

[@mayanaw.9027]

I thought the same thing lol "bullying" a company??? BULLYING? That's crazy.

[@thegoodkindofweirdo]

And the worst thing is, they'll more likely hire a Black person for this, only for them to carry all the burden that the brand owner COULD NOT SOLVE THEMSELVES. Hate crime after hate crime... 🤦

[@xamyx725]

First of all, “hate crimes” are not this trivial, and you really should research what they actually are… Second, imagine the outrage if they hired a White person for the job… “Why didn’t they hire a Black person…! They’re sooo rAcIsT!!!”

[@kemberlymclain5800]

Robert So well said...the fact that Shade 600 is still available for purchase negates anything YF has to say!!! I was at an Ulta in Charlotte, NC and YF was still displayed on an end cap...oddly in the hair care area. I was most disgusted, not by the brand still being there so much (contracts I'm sure) as I was that Shade 600 was still available to purchase. My Ulta in Katy, Texas has removed the products from the floor!

[@Hollie0981]

That black paint was statement enough about how they feel about inclusivity, but this "ten thousand positions in one" is even worse. The gall, gumption and whole grain audacity. 👋

[@nightgoddess9]

Whole grain audacity 😂

[@thesnoopydance645]

Swoop fan ?

[@Hollie0981]

@@thesnoopydance645 YES!

[@4amlibra]

@@thesnoopydance645You beat me to it!! Lmao first thing I immediately thought when I saw “whole grain audacity”.

[@Viviolau]

Robert, thank you for making this video and pointing out the bs reasoning people have been using to justify the brand’s actions. It gets tiring dealing with the gaslighting around racist actions where people try to tell me why the thing that offends me “actually isn’t offensive”.

[@stillnotstill]

And these same people who are being so dismissive, know full well that they get to decide what hurts them, but don't apply that to other people, and I'm so not okay with that. It isn't okay.

[@Hyperdeath.Kisses]

Like I mentioned in another comment section, they need a career listing for a new CEO and a PR Manager. The lack of accountability is astounding.

[@clooneytune_]

I feel like short of having some sort of seriously unexpected redemption arc somehow -- Like properly taking responsibility and making legitimate steps to learn and do better -- they may as well just shut the whole thing down and sell the formula if it's really that good? I don't even know if that last part is possible tbh but I can't see this brand surviving in its current form

[@Crow_Smith]

Oh my god they're bringing back the Professional Scapegoat role.

[@lulufortytwo3884]

I had already forgotten about the brand since there's so many others I would prefer to support. I can't believe they reminded the public that they exist to reinvigorate our disgust. If you're a university professor trying to teach PR, this brand has become an ideal case study in failure.

[@DoñaRatona]

Oh im very pissed off by this. I appreciate your passion on this youre 100% spot on.

[@lindseystein9676]

They want one person to do all of that? And no apology? Oh dear…

[@urbansuburbia7433]

Right? Be the marketing team, the DEI team, the manufacturing engineering team, the user experience team...

[@sparkle1596]

i will never purchase from this brand. they have pushed all of the responsibility onto an unknown future person because they can't be bothered. wth

[@glitteringmaze]

Ready for this mess… imagine being this big an embarrassment during and post-AAPI month… (Edit): I saw the shade in store the other day, too. I swatched it because I just had to see it for myself… it’s wild this is still out there for people to buy. I love how others have noted they’ve essentially made a role to be a scapegoat. Sickening.

[@LaurenMichele22]

The crime began when their caramel colored foundation was put in a mocha latte bottle. This whole situation is cringe and disgraceful.

[@Urine_]

That was them.?? Holy shit! That's insane.

[@serenitynowffs]

Ooooo, news! Thank you for keeping us informed! 🖤

[@RobertWelsh]

Always!

[@T-Laydie]

I don't know which lab makes their products but the lab must have said "no one's asked us to formulate that shade before, it's not an actual skin colour", and Youthforia said "yeah, we know, that's the point". 😐

[@candyce6233]

Just like how the company lied about expanding their shade range is exactly how they’re lying about hiring this so called internal employee who’s, by the look of it, has more responsibility then the gd owners or CEOs.

[@simonehenryutecht5468]

I think these segments should be called Robert’s Rants. And btw all very well said, thank you. It doesn’t take anything to not be horrible.

[@janna8147]

They are spiraling down the drain, where they belong at this point. Love your take on these issues Robert!

[@kellzwillz1592]

I really do wish they would voluntarily recall the product from Ulta and remove online.

[@emmamontoya5684]

It’s comical at this point how often I’ll be watching you or James then see the other one posts and click away to watch the other twin😂

[@RobertWelsh]

😂😂

[@nervousbreakdown711]

We need to remember that being a business is a privilege, not a right. “Indie businesses can’t be expected to cater to all skin tones!” Then that business shouldn’t exist.

[@adafihj6439]

I couldn't click this fast enough

[@Gamer_girl_Light]

RIGHT?!!

[@lisa-maried8733]

Same 😂

[@coralrey3401]

Saame!!

[@RobertWelsh]

🥹🖤🖤🖤

[@kimc555]

Same

[@StephanieMarie]

They created a single impossible position that would allow them to underpay one person for doing the work of multiple people. They absolutely know one person can't possibly accomplish everything listed. This enables them to pin their failure on the person they hire AND come back and say "See, we're trying, but can't find the right people!" It's disgusting.

[@epacaris8546]

Thank you for continuing the conversation about this! Their response was simply not good enough and they need to be held accountable 💜🖤

[@KowaiZuzu]

I also think it's important to point out that the original darkest shade was shown to be darker online. The model, the swatches, and the bottle were all shown to be dark, but when influencers got them they we're WAY lighter. Not just a few shades. I don't see how it could be that different unless it was intentional deception to try and look more inclusive than they actually are.

[@namjooniejoon6814]

THIS i dont know why anyone is defending that company and saying "they dont have to cater to all skin tones" when the whole issue started because they LIED??? did the founder even apologize about the difference in shade between the packaging and bottle?

[@KowaiZuzu]

@@namjooniejoon6814 The company claimed it was because of the frosted bottle. But the swatches and model used were literally wrong too. And the frosted bottle would make it look lighter, not darker. Obviously they were just looking for any excuse to blame the customer for believing their false advertising.

[@RP6575most]

I totally agree with you and to not care because it doesn’t “concern you” and I put that in quotes because no concern means a huge lack of empathy.

[@papa.cakes1248]

I got worked up hearing about this situation and seeing Rob being this fired up really warmed my heart

[@dorian417]

People defending a problematic startup company who doesn't care at all about anything but their bottom line: tell me we're in late stage capitalism without telling me. 🥴 Can you imagine exerting energy to go online and defend the honor of some random makeup company? I guess some people have a lot of time on their hands...

[@jongkittae]

12:15 THIS!!! literally I was going to comment this but robert beat me to it lol. inclusive doesn't mean you need EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE shade; it just means that you shouldn't release a range that is 90% for white/light-skinned people, you can be inclusive with a variety of shade and tone options without investing a huge amount and making 100 shades, the difference is just to make sure that every step between the shades is equal so you end up with a wider range of products for different skintones. I'm not going to speak for POC, but as a very pale girlie with cool undertones, it's difficult to find smth that doesn't look too orange or yellow on me, but I'd much prefer to have a slightly darker option with correct undertones than for every single paler foundation to be orange or yellow on my skin and I think it's likely folks with darker skintones would also prefer to adjust their highlight or concealer to work with a shade that's maybe slightly lighter/darker than their actual skintone but has the correct undertones, rather than be thrown a shade range that's completely outside of anything they'd be able to use. tldr; no excuses for not making an inclusive shade range in 2024, at this point, y'all just pretending you care about diversity if you aren't actively making the effort to cater to the widest possible range of skintones. fr if it's really a small business and money is tight, maybe just release a formula that can be stretched easier across skintones, smth like a cc cream or tinted moisturizer that has a sheerer coverage so it'll blend easier into slightly varied skintones.

[@mahoganyhoney]

I never even heard of this brand before they decided to try to market blackface paint. They can keep their apology and concentrate on those of European descent because there's nothing they could ever do to convince me to give them a dime.

[@VerdeLane]

Same! Never heard of them. I'm good continuing to ignore them. The owner is A sian, so I'm unsurprised!

[@katl8825]

@@VerdeLanelol hold up, let’s not fight racism by going back and pinning it on their race… they are uneducated, they don’t put their money where their mouth is, and absolutely do not deserve to run a beauty company. Never heard of this company, but I know their name to avoid it now 😂

[@manaash4316]

As someone with a mayo complexion, they can get stuffed. They won't be getting my money if they're treating my more melaninated ladies like this. Absolute trash company.

[@And...ow3ch]

I actually love your bare faced, natural hair style. Thank you for addressing this 🫶🏾

[@neurospicyrainbow]

Let’s boycott this stupid brand

[@BOUJEEBOGANBADBITCHQUEEN]

It's like people saying boycott shein boycott temu because of slave labour blah blah blah it's quite pathetic really every company that people say boycott I go to especially shein and temu

[@janie2103]

@@BOUJEEBOGANBADBITCHQUEEN Do you not care about how these companies exploit child workers? There is nothing pathetic about boycotting a company who pays their workers slave wages . It's called being a decent and empathetic human. Try it out sometime.

[@stillnotstill]

​@@BOUJEEBOGANBADBITCHQUEEN That's the opposite of pathetic

[@chaeryeong991]

@@BOUJEEBOGANBADBITCHQUEENdid you forget to take your pills?

[@vanessastone33]

​@THEWEIRDOGOTHVAMPYREWITCH Ah, let me guess...you're not like everyone else. You're special and go against the grain. While everyone else makes informed decisions, you inform yours by just doing the opposite. How lazy.

[@ParticularlyChar]

It sounds like they’re looking not to hire someone to correct the issues but so they can blame someone when they continue to fail to do better.

[@reverie6034]

1 written by AI. 2 what are the rest of the people in the company going to do? No. Youthforia needs to show themselves out.

[@Abekeuweme]

So they decided to make a diversity hire? Bloody hell

[@dnlapine]

it sounds like "You think you can do better? Go ahead, You do it"

[@riahru1160]

3:50 they didn’t even actually apologize or address it! 😡

[@kalishajnz]

I appreciate your take and for explaining it to the ones who don't get it. Thank you 💜

[@tiffanychill8219]

If I was rich enough I would come out with a makeup line specifically only for black people!!! And see how bad people flipped all the way out over it !!!! I guarantee you the ones that said everybody doesn't need to make all shade ranges would change their mind!!!!! The world would be in an uproar and it would be canceled within a minute at all stores!!!!!!!!

[@tsunfish9443]

YES THIS!!!! I JUST TYPED MY OWN COMMENT SAYING ROUGHLY THE SAME LOOOOOL

[@monicapatton1405]

There are some. It’s great.

[@kellysinclair8833]

Nicole Roberts from girls aloud brought out a makeup line for pale skin

[@funkytime69]

there's blk/opl

[@GMW.artist]

Iman did makeup for black people... and there are lots who focus on colours for darker.skin...

[@AshleyfromTX]

I could really listen to Robert talk about anything. I’m on vacation rn so I’m binge watching and catching up tonight on what I’ve missed 😊

[@flightofthexwings]

How, honestly HOW, can they continue to fuck up so badly? How is it possible to keep recreating a worse and worse version of their first mistake?

[@Musos-wq1ud]

Thank you Robert for your genuine support of this I don't wear makeup but as a black guy I was horrified that this could happen in 2024

[@mala3isity]

LOL This IS Grammarly's suggested empathetic version of their statement/rant.

[@Trazzlepops]

Shocking they’d issue a statement basically admitting to extending their shade range without anyone responsible for DEI.

[@aquatiger8]

I literally just finished rewatching Jen Luv's video on this topic and was about to deep dive and see if any updates were out there... your timing is impeccable as always ❤ this just... wow. the lack of an apology, the lack of accountability, the ad looking for a future scapegoat, the denial so deep, I think King Tut just rose from the dead out of it... if you don't want black people's money, just say so love. I am more than happy to take my hard earned cash elsewhere. I've never bought from them before and I certainly won't now 😘

[@annamendoza3479]

The King Tut line really cracked me up!!! 😂

[@jasonrodriguez4524]

The “apology” is a job posting. I’m actually FLOORED.

[@DarkKoffee]

Thank you very much for keeping us posted ❤. My honest opinion is exactly like yours. It seems obvious that they didn’t learn anything at all and are still pretending due to their latest posts. I’d never ever support brands like this.

[@par3433]

So funny how people are so quick to defend a brand sometimes instead of fellow human beings? Can you bully a brand? The humanization of companies is really strange

[@DeeL-u1c]

Robert, preach! That job description...the mission impossible that is Youthforia will have that POC they wanna hire out the door as a failure in under 8 months. Youthforia had one moment to get this right, but they are the Rishi Sunak of cosmetics companies: inauthentic, tone deaf and not enough sense to carry an umbrella in a shitstorm.

[@kyromyrma]

This gives: "Do you want to be able to purchase products of a wider shade range from us? Then come and do the work yourself." kind of approach, in my opinion. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@whoahanant]

First part is exactly part of the problem. If you as a brand come out with a line and it comes with a range of tones from light to dark then you have from the beginning admitted to catering to ALL skin tones. Anyone whining that they don't need to cater to all tones is a part of the problem. They already DID from the start so there's no defending that when they drop the ball. If you don't want to cater to all skin tones then whatever I guess, but if that's how you feel then why are you releasing a skin tone range in the first place?

[@mayanaw.9027]

Literally so you can exclude certain shades.

[@jenniferarsenault2040]

Thank you Robert for your comments. It’s nice to see somebody passionate about companies doing what they say they’re going to do. I agree with you completely and I hope they get their act together. Thanks again for addressing this.

[@teri2466]

That's a huge VP level role and Youthforia's _possible_ future customers deserve an explanation of the product development TEAM, because one person can't do it.

[@theelementsoffate5816]

Thank you Robert, because we need the ppl in the back to open their ears and eyes🙏🏾😉

[@panic1802]

The person that gets that position is going to be their scapegoat the next time they do something dumb.

[@hiddenhookah]

Teach! To me, you came off as passionate yet measured and I’m so glad to have been able to watch, like and comment on this needed video💕

[@cathrynlisa]

What's the betting that the poor soul who takes that job (if anyone does) will be thrown under the bus next time something goes wrong?