Pre-wedding photos of Billy Crawford, Coleen Garcia in Ethiopia spark debate

MANILA, Philippines — Television hosts Coleen Garcia and Billy Crawford over the weekend earned some backlash after they shared their pre-wedding photos shot in Lalibela, Ethiopia.

For some, the pre-wedding photos of the couple, dubbed "Bi-Col," are jaw-dropping and artsy while others find them disturbing and insensitive for featuring Ethiopian women and children.

 

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Mar 10, 2018 at 3:59am PST

Crawford also drew flak for posting a photo of him and Garcia with local children in the background with a caption: "These wonderful kids from Ethiopia."

Twitter used accused the engaged couple for being "too privileged," and committing cultural appropriation. The photo posted on Instagram has since been deleted.

While experts also disagree on the precise definition of cultural misappropriation, it is understood as instances when a dominant group exploits or borrows cultural elements from a minority culture without regard for the latter's history, traditions and sensitivities.

Some users were confused over the message and intent of the pre-wedding shots, noting how the couple supposedly used locals as accessories, portraying them as the "other."

"Billy and Coleen's pre-nup shoot is nothing but all privileged and an imagery of turning a blind eye to the real state of the people of the land. No review of history," one Twitter user said.

Below are some of the criticisms on the Ethiopian-themed photos:

Ethiopians can be seen at the margins of some of the photos, without proper context as to why they are there.

WHAT FOR? Exoticization??? To serve as contrast and highlight how a m a z i n g
and
r e g a l
Coleen and Billy are?

— Ash Respeto (@athenaanona) March 10, 2018

Billy & Coleen's pre-wedding shoot concept is disturbing. It's not about race, but a question of intent. They both looked stunning and could've easily showcased the culture of Ethiopia without using the locals as accessories.

— Maria Koreena (@makoeslava) March 10, 2018

I am not saying that Billy and Coleen are racists, but only that they disregarded CULTURAL APPROPRIATION.

You do not strip people of their cultural sensibilities just so you could use these people as props. YOU. DO. NOT. DO. THAT.

— Ash Respeto (@athenaanona) March 10, 2018

Billy and Coleen's prenup shoot is just off on so many levels. I don't see any [positive] underlying message. It's like saying, "Oh, look, we're a fancy couple who can fly out here and make you stand in the background as we show you how privileged we are lol." pic.twitter.com/kJT6M2HFSF

— Gal Harot (@skydieme) March 10, 2018

Creative, not racist, says promoter

While others criticized the pre-nuptial images, others praised them for being unique and artsy.

ABS-CBN promoter Nhoie Gurrobat, who was among the first to post the controversial photos, defended the couple and the production team responsible for the shoot.

Gurrobat said he respects others' opinions but he finds nothing wrong with the shoot since they just featured the beauty of Ethiopians and their culture.  

"First of all, the children (in the photograph) do not look hungry and they are dressed fine. They are also posing and looking at the camera. They are not kneeling before Billy and Coleen or doing gestures that seem like they are worshiping the two," the promoter said.

He also noted that Ethiopia is not as poor as other countries in Africa, and it has a fast-growing economy. In 2016, Ethiopia's gross domestic product grew by 8 percent while the Philippines' economy expanded by 6.9% in an election year.

In his lengthy comment, Gurrobat also argued against others' perceptions about race.

"If black people join a predominantly Asian production with Asian leading characters, critics would say the idea is racist. What if the children in the shoot are white? Would they say the same thing?" he said.

"I mean, wouldn't you be racist party in over analyzing these things? You are the ones with the issue with blacks and look down on them," he continued.

Twitter user Lorenzo Yambao likened Bi-Col's pre-wedding shots to fashion designer Valentino's African-inspired Spring 2016 campaign shot in Kenya. He said Valentino's shoot was also similar but it was portrayed in a more fashionable way.

Before coleen and billy did it in Ethiopia, Valentino did it too in Kenya (only it's more fashown and less tacky), where only one black model was casted. Copycat pa more! pic.twitter.com/JnezAVHWNQ

— Lorenzo (@itsmerenyambao) March 11, 2018