Generally, most famous personalities have the luxury to change almost anything about their looks but once the change comes, be ready to face the repercussions.
Some celebrities accused of adding chemicals to their skin have denied the act publicly while others stay mute because it is noticeable.
The issue of skin bleaching has become very pertinent, particularly because some celebrities with huge followership have also been identified as patronizing the trend.
www.ghanaweb.com puts together a list of celebrities who have been accused of bleaching in the past, as well as a few who are still battling with the assertions.
Bukom Banku
Ghanaian boxer, Brimah Kamoko known as Bukom Banku tops the chart for personalities who have been accused of bleaching.
The Boxer told JoyNews in an interview that he wants to be like the late American singer, Michael Jackson so he would bleach and become “fresh”.
The boxer also said in 2016 that his bleaching is something influenced by his wife. “Yes, I’m bleaching my skin. I hate my black skin. Bleaching has made my skin ‘flesh’. My bleaching wife advised me to bleach” he disclosed.
After months of battling the desire to be fair colored, Bukom Banku gave up and said he has quit.
Shatta Wale
In July 2017, the controversial dancehall artiste was accused by the public of bleaching, after images on social media appeared to show a fairer Shatta Wale.
Shatta Wale later came out to deny the allegations, insisting that he was not bleaching his skin and will never do so.
During the time the allegations were made, Shatta Wale was on a European tour. The reason he gave is that the cool European weather appeared to have had some effect on his skin and not because he had bleached his skin.
His defense rather attracted more trolling and mockery as social media users continued to hit at him
Kyeiwaa
Ghanaian veteran actress, Kyeiwaaa was also accused of bleaching in 2017. The actress who is slightly fair in complexion became the subject of public ridicule when a photo of her appeared showing a fairer version of herself.
Kyeiwaa insisted that the advanced lightening of her skin was as a result of the American weather, where she was now residing and not due to any skin bleaching. Anyways, you may ask why Diddy, R. Kelly and 50Cent and others are still black after living in American all their lives.
Daddy Lumba
Highlife music legend, Daddy Lumba is another personality who cannot be defended when it comes to skin bleaching because of some signs Ghanaians see on his skin.
Over the years, the highlife icon has gradually undergone a transformation process as he disowned his fairly brown-skin person to become a completely light-skin man.
Empress Gifty
Gospel artiste, Gifty Osei has also been criticized for bleaching. According to critics, they witnessed Gifty’s rising years as a gospel artiste and they can attest to the fact that she has over the years transformed from her chocolate complexion to a much fairer one.
Gifty Osei has vehemently denied on several occasions that she is not into skin bleaching.
Yvonne Nelson
Actress Yvonne Nelson hasn’t had it easy with Ghanaians over the years. She has been heavily criticized for allegedly adding chemicals to her natural skin tone.
According to her, she has not added any additional stuff to her skin. She also argued that most of the movies are shot under enhanced camera effects which makes her appear a bit light-colored than she actually is.
Ama Boahemaa
Gospel musician, Ama Boahemaa even threatened to sue anyone who accused her of bleaching her skin.
In 2014, Social media went agog when pictures emerged of a very fair looking Ama Boahemaa of the “Awurade wo ba 33ko” and “Bue kwan ma me” fame, looking very different from the black lady of her old days.
Ama’s explanation seemed pretty interesting and hilarious as she attributed her changed skin tone to the effects of excessive milk; both drinking and mixing some with her cream.
Becca
The ‘Sugar’ hitmaker was also accused of bleaching her skin following comparison of her past and present photos. She constantly denied bleaching her skin, but the reports will just not go away.
Speaking in an interview with TV3 in 2017, Becca said there was no reason for her to apply chemicals to her body. She insisted that she has “always done natural hair, I love my skin, I love me.
There is no reason why I want to change to white. I am born in Africa and there is a reason why I am here in Africa and in Ghana and I love it.”
She went on to state that her ‘light’ appearance on TV is as a result of the camera and lighting in the studio.
Akosua Vee
The wife of musician A-plus was also accused of using chemicals to alter her skin color.
A social media user came out to accuse Akosua Vee of bleaching. According to the user, her husband A-Plus has no moral right to judge and shade someone else for bleaching because the wife has also bleached.
To back the social media users’ accusations, the person posted a before and after photo of Akosua Vee to buttress the accusations and that photo is fast going viral on social media.