TikTok star Addison Rae Easterling resurfaces on social media to apologize for reposting an 'All Lives Matter' video
- Addison Rae Easterling, 19, is one of TikTok's most recognizable faces.
- Recently, the social media star has been quiet on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter.
- Easterling returned to Twitter on Wednesday to issue an apology for reposting an "All Lives Matter" video in the past.
- "All lives CANNOT matter until Black lives do," she said in her apology.
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Following a week-long hiatus from social media, Addison Rae Easterling resurfaced on Wednesday to apologize for reposting a video in support of "All Lives Matter" four years ago. In the video, a woman called Black Lives Matter a "cult" that does "more harm" than "good."
"I owe all of you an apology," the 19-year-old's open letter on Twitter began. "Four years ago, I reposted a video which included a woman sharing her thoughts on Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter that I should not have."
"All lives CANNOT matter until Black lives do," she went on. "The Black community was and continues to be oppressed and damaged by systemic racism."
— addison rae (@whoisaddison) July 8, 2020
"I see my mistakes and am committed to learning from them," Easterling added. "I will never stop growing, learning, and fighting for those whose voices rightfully need to be amplified, and will forever believe that Black Lives Matter. I am truly sorry and I am committed to using the platform you all have given me to work on becoming a better ally."
You can read her full Twitter statement below.
I owe all of you an apology.
Four years ago, I reposted a video which included a woman sharing her thoughts on Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter that I should not have. Because of my privilege, I didn't understand and wasn't educated enough on the social injustices facing the Black community. All lives CANNOT matter until Black lives do. The Black community was and continues to be oppressed and damaged by systemic racism.
I see my mistakes and am committed to learning from them. I will never stop growing, learning, and fighting for those whose voices rightfully need to be amplified, and will forever believe that Black Lives Matter. If you haven't done so already, please join me in supporting and learning more about the global Black Lives Matter movement.
I am truly sorry and I am committed to using the platform you all have given me to work on becoming a better ally. I love you all endlessly.
Addison Rae
Easterling's update comes after a week-long break from social media. She is one of TikTok's most-followed creators with nearly 50 million followers, second only to Charli D'Amelio's 70 million followers. Because Easterling is known for posting multiple times a day on the app and on social media, her fans had started to pose increasingly alarming theories to explain her absence.
But it appears the absence was Easterling's way of "taking space," as her friend Dixie D'Amelio recently put it in an interview with The Hollywood Fix.
The video Easterling reposted is not the only problematic moment that fans have pointed to in recent days. Previously, Easterling was called out for seemingly telling Sway LA creator Kio Cyr to say the N-word during a live stream. The speculation was put to rest when Cyr clarified that Easterling asked him, "Did you say the N-word?"
She also came under fire after fans accused her of "blackfishing," or the act of using makeup and self-tanner to make oneself look Black.
Easterling has not commented on either incident. Insider had not heard back from Easterling's representatives at the time of this story.
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