Lala Kent has finally deleted the controversial post after 24 hours of being widely criticized online for being “insensitive to the black community,” but the belated move seems unlikely to salvage her public image among her increasingly distrustful fans. The original post — a selfie with a caption that purportedly celebrates the “purity” of white identity while using imagery that was allegedly borrowed from black culture — quickly went viral after being posted to Instagram Stories on Tuesday evening. Many said Lala used images and symbols belonging to the black community as a decorative tool without showing any respect or cultural awareness. After receiving hundreds of critical comments and dozens of exposés on Reddit and Twitter, Lala remained silent for nearly 20 hours before quietly deleting the post and disabling comments on her entire Instagram account. A source close to Lala's team told the DailyMail that Lala's team was "in a panic after the backlash became more widespread than expected" and that Bravo had held an internal meeting to discuss the media fallout that the scandal could have on the next season of Vanderpump Rules. "They initially thought it was just a temporary outrage like they've had before, but this is different - the black community in the Bravo fandom is really hurt and speaking out," the source said. While some loyal fans tried to defend their idol by insisting that she "meant no harm", the majority said that this was not the first time Lala had been embroiled in a racially charged controversy - and they were tired of the insensitivity disguised as "innocence".
On Twitter, the hashtag #LalaKentIsOverParty quickly climbed to the top trending areas in Los Angeles and New York within hours of the post going viral. “Lala had the chance to speak up, to learn, to apologize – but she chose to stay silent and only delete the post when it was too late. This is a testament to her insincerity,” wrote one user. Another was more scathing: “No one believes in the fake ‘woke queen’ anymore. Lala only acts when her image is threatened – not because she truly understands or cares.”
As of now, Lala Kent has yet to make any official statement despite being criticized for “blatantly dodging responsibility.” Meanwhile, some activists have called on Bravo to reconsider Lala’s role in future shows and require her to attend cultural and racial awareness training. For many viewers who have loved Lala Kent's strength and outspokenness, this disappointment isn't just about a post, but about how she faces her own consequences — or rather, how she chooses not to face them.
